By Kevin Lee Associate Editor

The small storefront at 5 Jackson Street in downtown is getting yet another facelift and this one seems poised to fully exploit the space’s familiarity to Mobile’s arts denizens.

Over the years, the 1100-square foot space has played host to a variety of endeavors, among them a clothing shop and a headquarters to an environmental action group. Most recently, it was the home of Jackson Street Gallery, a combination exhibition space and bookstore.

The latest incarnation follows the same general theme as the previous tenant but with wider ambitions. Set to premiere to most area art lovers on BayFest weekend, Off Dauph Art Space is the culmination of a communal vision shared by its two principals . “Our mission statement is ‘Art. Artists. Community. Period,’” said chief administrator Tim Ellzey.

Premiering in conjunction with Heather’s Art with Heart event, Off Dauph may be another sign that the idea of an active arts community in downtown could finally be gathering steam.

An Atlanta College of Art graduate working as an administrative assistant at the Mobile Arts Council, Ellzey is no stranger to organization or the players in Mobile’s arts scene. The ambitious project looks to host two juried shows a year plus other offerings meant to bolster more than the monthly LoDa Artwalks.

Ellzey points to “a number of social outreach programs” to be carried out, consisting of “school programs, hands-on learning opportunities, artist mentoring, lectures and workshops, research and resource networking.”

Though raised in the Midwest, Ellzey considers himself a native Mobilian. “My maternal family arrived in Mobile after the Depression and operated a grocery and gas store and a drug store,” he recalled.

Tim’s family even lent shape to Mobile geography. “Pavan Drive off Cottage Hill (Road) was named by my grandparents when they developed and sold the parcels of property,” said Ellzey. “Mother graduated from Murphy High School in 1947. My parents were active duty military, so I was born in another state, but raised Mobilian.”

“I’m probably the only Midwesterner to actually know what seafood is supposed to taste like,” he deadpanned. “I have spent every summer of my life here, so I consider myself Mobilian, and this is the reason why I decided to move here following my 14 years in Atlanta. I have laid anchor here.”

Ellzey’s chief partner in the endeavor grew up a bit closer to the Azalea City, but not properly in town. An artist who goes by the singular sobriquet Mateo, he grew up in Washington County and came south to graduate magna cum laude from the University of Mobile. Mateo’s work is familiar to many Mobilians, regardless of their awareness, as he has designed several posters for a variety of local festivals and his work adorned the cover of Lagniappe’s 2006 Mardi Gras issue.

Mateo and Ellzey saw an opportunity and seized it. “The site just came open,” said Ellzey. “The news of an art venue closing presented an opportunity, and after budget considerations, within a few short weeks we decided it was an idea-turned-to-dream-turned-to-goal, that we could bring to fruition.”

Combined with the growing participation in the ArtWalks-the Arts Council office boasted attendance of around 800 for the September event-and the surge in popularity of Chesser Gallery, Off Dauph is prepared to bring another heavy presence to the same city block.

“We considered the current artistic culture/cluster beginning to occur in the vicinity,” elaborated Ellzey. “This area, as part of our consideration, provides for more potential to us than the Bienville Square area, or further east or west on Dauphin Street. Cathedral Square seems to be a hotspot that’s central to the revitalization of downtown.”

Their first full-blown event is sure to gather attention. The exhibit, “The Male Form Show,” holds an opening reception on Friday, Nov. 3 and seems as if it has the potential to elicit a fair bit of murmuring. Those looking for sailboats and pelicans are likely to be displeased with the frankness and possibly uncomfortable with the honesty of some of the work.

Portfolio submissions are being solicited at present. As far as the semi-annual juried shows in the works, their schedule is yet to be announced.

This addition sounds proactive and welcome to the artistic communal milieu. If Ellzey’s “anchor” is strong enough for everyone, the block north of Cathedral Square could become as culturally hefty as his dreams.

Kevin Lee is Lagniappe associate editor. Contact him at klee@lagniappemobile.com.

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