ArtHouse! & Ophelia’s Art Circle
Myriad artists are scattered throughout the beautiful rural spaces of the Southern Finger Lakes. ArtHouse! of Spence Van-Etten actively promotes the spread of art and culture by bringing artists together and broadcasting their talent into the community-at-large.
Originally, the group renovated a store front in Van Etten to create galleries, sell art work, show movies, host classes and other gatherings. When someone bought the store front, ArtHouse! became less of a destination, but much more of a presence. "We shifted gears," remembers Rusty Keeler, secretary of the ArtHouse!. "If the community couldn't come to a dedicated art space, ArtHouse! would bring its artists to the community instead."
The idea has spread like beautiful weed. Residents of Spencer-Van Etten now have access to arts programming in schools and pre-schools, at public events and iea cream socials. ArtHouse! showcases local musicians during its Friday Fun Nights at the Spencer Grange an hosts workshops on recycling, paper-making, natural building and more.
Member-artist, Polly Wood is founder and coordinator of Ophelia's Art Circle, a unique multi-disciplinary arts experience for middle-school girls. During a recent 8-week after school enrichment program ay Danby Central School, Wood led girls to rediscover their intuition, artistic selves and self-worth. "We explored our own creativity using visual arts, music, crafts, theater, ritual and the environment, " she elaborates. "Teaching girls to hear their innervoice and heed it will ultimately enable them to do what they dream of doing and be what they dream of being."
Wood credits ArtHouse! with providing a similarly creative environment. "So many people bring talent and perspective to ArtHouse!," says Wood. "This collective effort encourages us all as wel." Together they scatter art thoughout the community so it grows in and around the people who live there.
