If you’ve walked by 4401 Fremont Ave. N. lately, you might have done a double take. The space has been everything from a fish and chips joint to a Reuben’s taproom, and when Reuben’s closed, most neighbors figured demolition was next. Instead, art started appearing in the windows. Flyers indicated it was called the “Wecelium Creative Lab.”
The Wecelium Creative Lab is a space that hosts a variety of events, including art gallery shows, workshops, wellness gatherings, co-working, private events, and parties. Fees vary by event, and they also operate on barter and reciprocity.
“People just need a place to connect. So that’s what we’re experimenting with and seeing what makes sense,” said Nathan Marion, creator of the Wecelium Creative Lab and the Wecelium Network.
Marion co-founded Abbey Arts in 2006, serving as executive director of Fremont Abbey Arts Center from 2006 to 2023. He also runs a design consulting practice called Lonely Buildings, focused on repurposing old buildings into community spaces. He helped remodel Fremont Abbey, Ballard Homestead, and is working on Woodlawn Hall in Green Lake.
“I love old buildings that are being repurposed or saved or redesigned in some way,” he said.
It’s a model that fits Fremont’s long history of creative reuse, from the Abbey to the Troll under the bridge, where community projects have a habit of taking root in unexpected places.
Wecelium is modeled on mycelium, the underground fungal networks that share nutrients between trees and plants. “I was learning about the mycelium networks and how they share between trees. Once they’re nourished, they’ll share the nutrients,” he said. Marion saw the same need among small event producers and nonprofits who had resources to share but no system for doing it. He started hosting dinners to connect people, then organizing events, artist retreats, and wellness programming.
“I just started to notice all these resources and equipment and sound gear and rugs and things that people were asking to borrow or need for festivals and events… There’s so many small producers and nonprofits just struggling.”
The property owner is letting the Wecelium Lab use the space before demolition begins for a new apartment development. “The developer has been letting us use it for about almost a year now,” he said. “I’m preparing to be gone by May, but you never know, things get delayed.”
Marion is looking at other spaces to migrate to, including a possible long-term location in the area.
He’s also exploring wellness programming, particularly sound baths, and experimenting with an alcohol-free elixir bar concept. “At this point, Wecelium is pretty much a testing ground. It’s like our little Google X moonshot space, with a much much smaller budget.”The lab’s days at 4401 Fremont Ave. N. are numbered, but for now, the door is open. To learn more about Wecelium, visit their website or follow them on Instagram.
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