The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
CREATIVE SPACE OPENS
What’s happening: Former hardware shop to become home to artists, entrepreneurs
TORRINGTON >> Breathing new life into a vacant hardware store is only the first step for an ambitious program hoping to spark the interests of local artists and small business owners.
Nearly 50 people gathered inside Morrison’s Hardware shop on Water Street Thursday evening as that program, called Create Here Now, welcomed residents during an information session and pie social that included a musical performance.
The program’s goal is to reuse vacant store space like Morrison’s Hardware shop and transform it into a place capable of nurturing local artists, creative types and small businesses. The pilot program in Bridgeport was so successful that the program received a $500,000 grant from a national arts fund called ArtPlace America. The money will fund at least 20 more similar projects in cities and towns in Connecticut. The vacant lots are usually ones near or in downtown areas.
“Thank you all for joining us, this is a historic occasion for the re-imagining of the Morrison’s Hardware store,” said Margaret Bodell as she addressed those gathered. “I know this is a beloved place in this town, and it’s just so fun to be here.”
The project is supported by the city of Torrington as well as the state Department of Economic and Community Development.
Bodell said she is the CVO, or Chief Visual Officer. Her role is as a curator, and she will help those interested in using the
space to brainstorm ideas, display artwork of even just lounge inside the spacious, chic space.
“This is space is to find the creatives, bring them together and to create a new future of the revision of empty space,” Bodell said after she and her colleagues gave a brief welcome address. “Yes, we love artists, but we are interested in people that have good ideas, and taking those ideas and making them into a way that can generate income.”
Nineteen other municipalities will be hosting a similar project if all goes as planned, and Bodell said Torrington was chosen because it’s a rural location with a track record of supporting creative projects.
Along with Mayor Ryan Bingham, Torrington’s Director of Economic Development Rose Ponte attended the event in support of the program, which she helped bring to the city.
“I knew this building was empty, and the attorney who represents the owner of this building had called me and said ‘Rose, do you have any ideas for this building?,’” Ponte said.
Ponte said she had previously received a call from Bodell about coming to Torrington, and so the vacant space found a new tenant. Ponte said she hopes the project will help create jobs and interests from people not necessarily familiar with Torrington.
“Margaret was really well aware of how much we are really trying to establish the arts, and that’s why she thought Torrington would be the best place to do this.” Ponte said. “I am really hoping artists in the area are going to use this as a wonderful venue to display their art, to start their businesses, to form a community, to be able to strengthen themselves by just being with each other.”
Rod Frantz is the director of CreateHereNow, and he said he works closely with Bodell by taking care of what he said is the bureaucratic side, longterm planning and initial grant writing for the project.
“I liaise with the state probably more regularly than Margaret does to make sure we are adhering to all of their expectations of their project,” Frantz said.
Lana Peck said she attended because she’s familiar with the area art establishments, and wanted to see what was going on. She said she’s a visual and musical performing artist who produces short, original music and comedy skits online. She was one of several area artists who attended in hopes of learning more about the space and its possibilities.
Bodell said the space will be open from Wednesday through Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Small gatherings, art shows and performances can all be hosted by the space, but there is an application process that’s still being fine-tuned, according to artistin-residence Suzi Galloway.
The space is scheduled to host a Desultory Theater Club production of “God of Carnage” directed by Keith Paul on August 23.