In fact, as owner Michelle Schutte will eagerly divulge, the new gallery and studio space - which is funded solely by renting space to artists - will hang whatever it wants.

Schutte, 35, who owned Hand to Mouth Gallery on Chestnut Street and The Clinic art space on Holly Street, said Jinx is another attempt to offer a place to create and show alternative art and music.

There's nothing on the freshly painted walls yet - the business, at 306 Flora St., near Whatcom Museum, is set to have its official opening and reception Sept. 1.

But if you're looking to feel the tone of the place, you can start in the greenish, 4,500-square-foot basement. An enormous industrial lamp hangs from the cement ceiling, and an old boiler room is full of ancient, indecipherable machinery.

Starting this month, 13 area artists will move into wall-less community studio spaces in the basement, in addition to five artists who will set up shop in private studios upstairs. The studios run from $125 to $400 per month.

Jinx, boasting a total of about 7,000 square feet, will house a photographer, disc jockey, recording studio, band practice space and a screen-printing office. And that's just upstairs.

Schutte said the gallery will display visiting artists' work in the main gallery upstairs, allowing artists downstairs to display their work as frequently as they like.

Schutte, a Western Washington University graduate in art and bartender at Cap Hansen's Bar, will have a painting studio at Jinx, which will be open by appointment only, aside from receptions about once every two months.

Both of Schutte's previous spaces shut down when the buildings sold and landlords didn't renew the lease, but Schutte said she's determined to reincarnate her vision.

"I should have 'gentrified' tattooed on my forehead," Schutte laughed. "But for me (those businesses) were an illustration of how supportive people can be of spaces like that.

"Most people just need a space with running water to make a mess, and it makes sense to do it in the same place to create an energy and to sell art," Schutte added. "It's exciting and motivating to be around people who are creating things."

Local photographer Gunther Frank had a studio with both of Schutte's former businesses, and will rent an upstairs space at Jinx.

"I really like the whole idea of being a part of an artist community," Frank said. "I just feel like I'm going to have a lot more options as far as being creative."

Schutte said she's also open to having occasional live music in the basement space.

"I want (Jinx) to be available for a show every month or two for bands from out of town who need an all-ages venue," she said.

The first show is scheduled for Aug. 21, featuring Bellingham's Black Breath, and Seattle's Book of Black Earth.

Reach Cat Sieh at cat.sieh@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2236.