Tucked in between the rolling wheat fields of the Palouse there is an antique barn surrounded by a fence made from wheels. But instead of farm animals, the barn houses several artists’ studios.

Artisans at the Dahmen Barn (pronounced like Matt Damon) is a unique combination of gallery, studio, music venue and classroom.

“It’s really a unique place,” Barn Manager Leslee Miller said. “There’s no other place around here, or really anywhere, like it.”

Several resident artists work at the barn as well as show in the gallery.

 “It constantly changes, and we have a little bit of everything,” said Julie Hartwig, who runs The Shop at The Barn.

 The barn hosts events throughout the year that reflect the local community, from pie-baking contests to craft demonstrations.

“It’s a creativity center, and it’s where we have artists working out of their studios and the community can come learn and talk and see them work,” Miller said.

This month Gloria Teats’ work will be featured in the barn from Sept. 4 until the 28. Teats works with oil paint in alla prima, a technique in which an artist paints on top of wet paint to create impressionistic landscapes. She said she is a nature lover and only paints places she’s actually been.

“They’re all beautiful places, right where I live,” Teats said.

Teats has been painting since 1977 and she now teaches painting classes through the Salmon River Art Guild. She said Idaho nature spots and the Wyoming Teton Range inspired her collection on display.

“I just capture the mood and feeling I get when I’m there,” Teats said.

The barn, built in 1935, was used as a commercial dairy operation by Jack Dahmen and his family until two artists, his nephew and niece-in-law Steve and Junette Dahmen, bought it in 1953. Steve’s work includes the wheel fence surrounding the barn, which is made of more than 1,000 wheels and took him 30 years to complete.

In 2004 Steve and Junette donated the barn to the Uniontown Community Development Association on the conditions it be used to benefit the community and the building be properly cared for.

“We just want to maintain it in the best way we can,” Miller said.

The local Uniontown park needs maintenance, as does the unique fence surrounding the barn, Miller said. The fence wouldn’t have been built without help from the community, and today it needs a little more help. One recent project included creating a new website for the barn, and construction on a new kitchen area where culinary classes can be offered is scheduled to start soon, Miller said.

The Shop at The Barn is located just adjacent to the barn and sells the work of local artists. Hartwig said they are always looking for new artists to showcase in the barn and sell in the shop.

Miller will be on campus Sept. 4 at the Cougs Connect fair to promote the barn and volunteer opportunities in Uniontown.

WSU coordinator of community projects Ashlie Grilz organized the fair, which brings together many community partners on campus.

“I would like to see a larger space for arts in this community, and hopefully the student population will become increasingly more aware of the local arts scene,” Grilz said.

The fair will take place from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Library Road.