At Wade Sand and Gravel original century old buildings remain from Birmingham's industrial revolution. The remains of the old ovens and pump houses are reminders of the days when the site boomed with activity as Republic Steel and as later as the Thomas Coke Works plant. This is the historic backdrop for a small group of artists-in-residence, dubbed The Artists of the Thomas Project. With the support of Birmingham's most innovative art patrons, Robin and Carolyn Wade (owners of Wade Sand and Gravel), each artist has converted studio space to work in this historic setting.

My studio consists of the former coal testing lab and an adjacent rail car shed, which I am in the process of restoring. The Coke Battery is a Kopper’s design and was built in 1952 and permanently closed about 1982. My studio is adjacent to the quarry, the loading station for rock that comes out the quarry and adjacent to the old coal conveyers belt for the Coke plant.