About Ideas 5
Ideas 5 are artist's studios and a gallery for selling the items made in the studios. It was made available in 2004 by the Office of Mayor Richard C. Howard and the Malden Redevelopment Authority (MRA) for 5 artists who needed a space to create their art/craft.
Over 25 years ago, several Malden artisans obtained studio space (the entire second floor) in the MRA's converted firehouse on Pearl Street as a reward for having saved the building from demolition. In 2004, the MRA required the space for teaching and decided to relocate the artists to the downtown area. The MRA found a vacant store at 183 Pleasant Street for their use as studios and to sell their creations. Three artists from the Pearl Street studio - Ginny, Jim and Denise - moved to the new space along with Julia. Marie joined the group in August 2006 (after the previous artisan, Patti Rae, moved to her new studio in Newburyport).