Walking through Athens, it is impossible not to notice the multitude of brown, red and orange bricks throughout the city, many of which are emblazoned with the iconic Athens Block symbol.
Visitors to Athens, as well as long-time residents, grow infatuated with owning one of the bricks themselves.
Many turn to the illegal act of prying one of the bricks out of its rightful place, but for those searching for a way to own a brick without the legal repercussions, the Athens Block Art Studio steps in.
“I thought if I gave it to them in something functional and in new ways and humorous ways, that it would make a connection with people,” said James Robinson, one of the owners and creators of the Athens Block Art Studio. “And they would back that up by spending some of their hard-earned money and taking one of our inventions home with them.”
After earning an MFA from Ohio University in 1999, James, along with his wife and fellow graduate Erin Robinson, started making art based on the Athens Block.
“One of the first things that I did as a sculptor was make a sculpture garden using Athens Blocks in my backyard,” James said. “But then, after I graduated, I needed to make a living and I wanted to do something that was interesting. And I kind of thought that the bricks were very special and the history behind them was very special.”
James bought the brick’s trademark from the state, and he and his wife started investing their time in the company.
Ten years later, the Athens Block Art Studio creates myriad pieces based on the famous bricks, including T-shirts, rubber versions of the bricks, playing cards, note cards, tables, key chains, pillowcases and many other items.
“We’re trying to give the brick back to the people in a way that would be interesting and new and yet historical at the same time,” James said.
Response to the Athens Block art pieces has been great, he said, and the pieces are sold at 11 different businesses in town, including Mountain Laurel Gifts, 25 S. Court St.
“I think it’s the history around it and it’s a memory unique to Athens (that makes the pieces popular),” said Megan Vanwinkle, a sales associate at Mountain Laurel Gifts. “They sell pretty regularly.”
The pieces are also available on the studio’s website for patrons outside the Athens area. James said that their pieces have been sent all around the world, as far away as Japan.
“I like knowing that something that came from my hands is now in a different part of the world,” Erin said.
Though James and Erin have a residence in Montana as well, when they are in their studio in Athens, they find it difficult to tear themselves away from their work.
“We actually do it like 10, 12 hours a day, seven days a week, when we do it,” James said. “How can you stop if you’re motivated? To stop, I physically have to leave the brick studio; it’s the only way I can stop. I have brick fever.”
bm257008@ohiou.edu
