Starline carries on as artist destination

As far as Orrin Kinney’s concerned, renovations to the Starline Factory in Harvard are endless.

Kinney rescued the historic building – dating back to 1883 – from demolition nearly two decades ago and hasn’t stopped looking for ways to expand and improve it since.

“We’re just trying to take advantage of every square inch and show off the building,” Kinney said of the 278,000-square-foot building that stretches for about seven blocks at 300 W. Front St.

Known for both its history and its uniqueness, the Starline Factory has gone from a manufacturing site for farm products to a destination location for artists, art enthusiasts and those seeking to host special events, such as weddings, in an industrial setting, complete with a pub and restaurant area. Its tagline at starlinefactory.com invites guests to "Explore the extraordinary."

An old basement boiler room became an atrium – with a deck built on top of the boilers – and a former shipping dock now serves as a gathering place for guests, with inviting fire pits. Work is underway to create an “artists’ market,” where artists can participate in the sale of their work.

“We still have room to grow,” said Kinney, the owner of the building. “That’s what is kind of unbelievable.”

Businesses rent space in the building, but the historic factory also has made a name for itself as the site of Starline 4th Fridays, featuring art exhibits, open artist studios, a photo contest, poets, hors d’oeuvres, cash bars and live music.

Kinney couldn’t let the event disappear when photographer and longtime tenant Nancy Merkling decided to go her own way after producing and hosting the event for seven years. So he took it over this year.

“Initially, going forward, 4th Friday will be very much like the 4th Friday you have always enjoyed,” he told fans on Facebook, adding he’d like to keep adding new experiences to the event.

“We were having such great success with it that we said, ‘Well, we don’t want to let that go away,’” Kinney said.

The Starline’s Stanchion Pub opens on 4th Friday days from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. with live music, a “4th Friday buffet” and a Friday night fish fry. And “The Extra Hour” event invites guests to extend their 4th Friday experience on the second floor “beyond the blue door” from 9 to 10 p.m. with more open artists studies, live music and a cash bar.

4th Fridays typically draw 400 to 500 people, Kinney said, with new fans still showing up regularly. He often hears, “This is in Harvard?’”

“That just kind of makes it all the more exciting,” he said.

Each time guests come, he said, they see something new added to the building.

“They’re anxious to see what’s going to happen next,” he said. “I think that is a real plus.”

He attributes the success of the space to the artists involved and the variety of work they produce, ranging from paintings to design work to photographs to handmade bags and purses.

The open artist studios allow guests to see the work created firsthand, adding a unique dimension.

But Kinney also believes the factory itself is a draw as he’s tried to stay true to its history and the nostalgia of the place while keeping it modern.

Not personally an artist himself, he said, “I like to think the building is my art ... .

“I think the building helps sell it. They’ll never build a building like this again.”