Plymouth's work of art
In less than a year, the Plymouth Center for the Arts has gone from a gleam in its founders' eyes to a recognized venue for events, classes, and exhibits, transforming a historic town library into a busy community hub.
The center will hold its first fund-raising gala on May 16, to raise money for operating costs and to share the buzz over a successful first year.
"It's more to create a party atmosphere than just a fund-raiser," said Andrew Kusmin, the center's volunteer co-director, eager to show off the work done in redesigning the Russell Library as an arts center. "A party's no fun without a lot of people."
Titled "Hats Off to the Arts!," the event will show off the redeveloped facility's features, with dancing in the Russell Hall (a onetime reading room refitted as an open space with new chandeliers), an intimate jazz club ambience in the garden, and special art shows in the center's galleries.
Stage Door Canteen, a 10-piece dance band consisting of faculty and graduates from Berklee College of Music, will headline the entertainment. Russell Hall, their performance space, is the main room of the 100-year-old Russell Library, an architectural treasure with a columned front portico.
The Leah Souza Trio will provide jazz in the quieter setting of a tent in the garden behind the library. Two soloists from the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra, cellist Matthew Pierce and violinist Jennifer Memoli, will perform in the art galleries.
The galleries are hosting special exhibits for the event, a Plymouth-themed art exhibit and a display of miniatures donated by artists for sale at the fund-raiser. Other donated items will be raffled.
The creation of a community arts center tapped a local appetite for both art and volunteerism, turning the new facility into a focus of community pride. Hundreds of volunteers have lent a hand to the project and scores are helping with "Hats Off."
"I dabble in painting," said retired physician Kathleen Leslie, who is heading up the food committee. "I wanted to be more involved in the Guild. This is a prime opportunity."
Plans to build a community arts center in the former town center library on North Street came together a year ago. Deemed a surplus property after the town built a larger library, the old library was sold five years ago to a condo developer, who sat on it as the condo conversion market softened. Town Meeting approved buying the building back with Community Preservation Act money last June and turning it over to the nonprofit Plymouth Guild for the Arts to operate as a home base for the arts.
The Guild began renovation work last summer, and ran art classes in the renovated spaces. The center opened its doors to the public last fall, offering a full schedule of arts classes, fostering a community theater group, and creating one exhibit gallery for Guild members and another open to all artists on the basis of jurying.
Other local arts organizations also use the center. The Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra and the Plymouth Community Theater have offices in the building. The Plymouth Garden Club will hold its flower shows there this year. Statewide arts organizations are also planning to hold shows there.
"It's been the most extraordinary year I've ever spent," said Kusmin, the Guild's president and a well-known watercolorist.
In an object lesson in the art of community building, local craftsmen and businesses donated their services to make costly renovations possible. Dreamscape Landscaping donated thousands of dollars in landscaping, and One Stop Painting and Glynn Electric have made similar in-kind contributions. Plymouth South High School technical studies students have donated their carpentry and ironwork skills.
North Street merchants are offering their parking spaces for the May 16 party, which begins at 7 p.m. Event organizers want people to see the facility, get excited by the center's offerings, and come back, Kusmin said.
The center can hold about 350 partygoers. Tickets are $75 per person. They can be reserved by calling the center at 508-746-7222.
Guests are also encouraged to wear funny hats - and to take them off for the arts.
Robert Knox can be contacted at rc.knox@gmail.com.
