The Art House
100R Elm Street, New Canaan, CT 06840
Visit us at The Art House
What makes a town great? What makes a place iconic and special? The Art House is an exploration of these questions, focusing on the art of living. It seeks to present an arc of creativity unique to New Canaan, CT, and how we might develop this creativity going forward.
In 1907, sculptor Solon Borglum moved to the Silvermine area of New Canaan, and sparked the creation of what became one of America’s most famous art colonies. His barn became the locus of a story about how we create greatness through our relationships. The “Knockers Club” attracted top-level artists to spirited gatherings critiquing each other’s work. But, behind the discipline of improving their craft was the energy of their playfulness and style of living life to its fullest. The rural character of the area made it the perfect playground for creative and personal exploration. These were artists engaged in all forms of media, sharing each other’s talents with a welcoming communal spirit.
We can trace this spirit to many qualities in New Canaan, CT, from the world famous modern house movement to having impromptu dances in the street. But, at its core was always the talent of generating creativity and community through very simple and resourceful means. The Art House seeks to reflect this core dynamic of generating life-well-lived through nature and simplicity.
Over a six-month period about two dozen people worked at transforming the Post Office Garage Depot from a forgotten space into a celebrated place that allowed for imagination to flourish. This never would have been possible without the strong friendships and camaraderie of all the talented people who participated. Every dimension of this process required the care and creativity of our team as we re-envisioned the essence of this 1930’s building.
About
The mission of the Art House is to regenerate the cultural and ecological patterns that made New Canaan, CT famous in the first half of the twentieth century.
The core aim of The Art House is to regenerate enspirited community that brings all types of people together around the process of creating art. The goal is to offer free space to accomplished artists. In exchange for free space, their mission will be to teach art to kids in the greater region. The Art House is being designed as open studio space geared for artists that love to collaborate with people and nature.
Currently, students at Norwalk Community College are redesigning the Post Office Depot to create fantastic collaborative space. Rubicon Seven Foundation, Inc. is currently in the process of fundraising, with the hope of starting construction in 2015.
For more information, contact Marcia Amidon at m.amidon@rubiconseven.com
(603) 933-3393
Gnostic Green 
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