Huntsville Times' Madison Spirit Article: Average To Art Bettering the Community

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

By GREGG L. PARKER For the Madison Spirit Huntsville Times

Alissa Murnane opens studio on Meridian Street

Alissa Murnane's new studio is anything but run-of-the-mill. She has opened Average To Art Studio and Showroom at 905 Meridian St. N. in Huntsville.

Average To Art turns average walls into art with decorative and faux finishes and custom murals for commercial and residential clients in the Tennessee Valley.

In 2003, Murnane organized her business in a one-bedroom apartment, then two rooms in a three-bedroom house, which her work quickly outgrew. She moved to a larger property in Madison and has operated the business there for two years.

"Average To Art now has an exclusive studio and showroom open to the public in Huntsville," she said. The studio's central location allows easy access for Murnane's existing and potential clients. She enjoys the flowers and greenery across the street at Summer Classics and the murals she finds inspirational at nearby Garden Cove. "These remind us how blessed we are to live our dreams as artists."

Some "tender loving care" was needed to convert the 1926 house to a studio. The 1,200 square-foot building "has lots of charm. We chose to accentuate the character and simply freshen it by turning the average walls into art."

At the showroom's entrance, an art gallery features an artist each month. The showroom has wall finish samples and a murals gallery. Murnane now has an office, kitchen and working studio for preparing samples and sketches and conducting individual classes to homeowners.
The Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville-Madison County recognized Murnane as a finalist for 2006 Young Professional of the Year and 2007 Small Business of the Year. She was chosen as July 2007 Artisan of the Month by the Chicago Institute of Fine Finishes and received the Torch Award for marketplace ethics from the Better Business Bureau of Northern Alabama. Murnane earned certification four times as a professional decorative finisher.

Born in Columbus, Ohio, Murnane grew up in numerous cities as a "marine brat." She received a bachelor's degree in international studies from Ohio State University and has more than 180 hours of decorative finish training. Her husband Austin Ramsay helps with the business and works as a bookkeeper for All Star Group.

Average To Art hosts networking meetings for business professionals on Fridays at 7:30 a.m. and monthly events, like "Lunch with an Interior Designer" and "Meet the Artist" parties. "We're excited to inform and show the people of Madison County how wall finishes and murals can create ambiance at home and work, both interior and exterior," she said.

Murnane invites people to stop in for a cup of coffee or espresso while touring the gallery. "Our beans come from Rwanda and help the surviving families of the genocide get back on their feet," she said. "Everything we do here at Average To Art is focused on bettering our community both locally and worldwide.

For more information, call 658-0657 or visitaveragetoart.com or averagetoart.blogspot.com.