Cultural Arts Center is born from fire at the Masonic Temple
ZANESVILLE — Bob Grayson and Rick Buck hope the The Y Bridge Cultural Arts Center taking shape in downtown Zanesville will be a year-round attraction for residents and visitors, and start to fill the hole in the community left by the fire that destroyed the Masonic Temple.
“We came out wounded and hurt,” following the January fire that displaced dozens of local artists and businesses, Grayson said. The new center, located at 8 Main St. at the eastern foot of the Y Bridge, will be a center of art, education and history, he said. The building is the former home of The Little Barnyard preschool.
The space is similar to the Masonic Temple in that Grayson said the management group hopes to create a family among tenants. The center will focus on the arts and artisans rather than being a space for any business to occupy.
So far 10 tenants, nine who came from the Temple, have spaces on the ground floor of the building, and Grayson said there is plenty more space in the upper three floors. “The building could probably hold another 45 tenants,” he added
“We are wanting to define this as a cultural arts center, rather than just another rental place in town,” Grayson said. He hopes the building will be a year-round tourist destination. “We want to preserve crafts, artisans, things that are made by hand.”
Education will play a vital role in the building, he said, with artists teaching pottery, digital art, painting, stained glass and jewelry, among other crafts. “The role of mentoring and coaching is equally important,” he said.
Grayson pictures a bustling focal point for the downtown art community, with hands-on opportunities and chances to watch artists at work.
The former kitchen area still has a large oven hood, and soon a ceramics kiln will perch under it. Nearby, a sink offers a place to clean brushes after a painting class. In the rear of the building, the Little Barnyard’s former gym area, tall brick walls offer a perfect place to hang art on consignment, Grayson said. “For people who want to sell art, but don’t want to rent an entire studio.”
Rick Buck, who is overseeing the efforts to bring back the Zane Trace Commemoration, a popular summer event from the 1970s and ‘80s, will host a small museum in his ground floor space. Buck has collected items from past commenorations, including programs and souvenirs like buttons and patches.
“I think it is going to be a nice spot once we get everything up and running and get going,” he said.
The center will welcome visitors for a preview during First Friday and Artwalk events. It will celebrate a grand opening in June.