Elm Street Cultural Arts Village officially will open the doors to the Reeves House May 14-16, fulfilling long-awaited dreams for the visual arts in Woodstock. The weekend will be full of celebrations of the community support that brought this endeavor to fruition. Festivities will include live music and art activities, and will feature an inaugural exhibit with pieces from local and regional artists who have served as the inspiration for this new home for the visual arts.
Beginning in May, the Reeves House will offer arts education opportunities in oil painting, watercolor, figure drawing and more, for all skill levels. This space will be a plus for the community, with a bustling schedule of events to provide lasting memories and experiences for all ages.
Collaboration is at the heart of this community, and has been since the beginning. Founders Gay Lora Grooms, Ann Litrel and Shawn McLeod joined forces in 2009 to create a vision for a multidisciplinary art center to provide entertainment, enrichment and education in the arts. The idea of the Reeves House grew from this vision, and so begins a great adventure!
Taking the reins at the Reeves House is new Visual Art Director Nicole Lampl, who brings bold visions and ideas for Elm Street programming. Lampl started as a gallery assistant, curator and consultant at galleries throughout California. She earned a masters in art history at Tulane University and became a curatorial fellow at the New Orleans Museum of Art. As the new leader for artistic initiatives at the Reeves House, and within our community, Lampl brings the fresh perspective and enthusiasm necessary to provide a vibrant visual arts scene.
Elm Street Cultural Arts Village wouldn’t be here without the support of our incredible city. Woodstock has been a strong partner for the arts and has been an invaluable investor, stakeholder and supporter. Elm Street’s four-acre campus sits in the heart of downtown Woodstock, where landmarks like the Elm Street Green, the Reeves House and even our city’s new natural playground are located. This collaborative spirit is a solid foundation, and gives Elm Street momentum to create new and exciting ways for us to experience vibrancy and togetherness, with art as the catalyst.
Special thanks are in order to John Wieland and the JW Collection, who built the project at cost and poured so much heart into every bit of the process. The JW team took such care in preserving the history of the building, by using original materials to create features that transport and inspire. Elm Street Executive Director Christopher Brazelton joined forces with JW to create something truly special that even further demonstrates the excellence that occurs in collaboration.
Elm Street takes enormous pride in building on the rich history of collaboration in this community, and plans to draw meaningful connections between the performing and visual arts, and the community at large. At Elm Street, we believe an inspired community can do more, and we have seen that vision come alive over the course of the Reeves House project. Propelled by purposeful collaboration, art has provided a pulse for this community, one that will continue to grow stronger as we go forward together.
– Katie Caldwell is the board president for Elm Street Cultural Arts Village. She has a bachelor of science in education degree from Kennesaw State University.
Celebrations at Elm Street
May 14
The grand opening party begins at 6 p.m. at the Reeves House. No charge. The open interior features space for a gallery hosting rotating exhibits, classrooms and artists studios, and a coffee shop/wine bar. Guests can tour the facility.
May 15
Mommy & Me is an artist-led project tutorial at the Reeves House, for kids and parents to work on together, that starts at 10 a.m. Free with suggested $15 donation for materials.
The Lantern Series on the Elm Street Event Green features artist Changüí Majadero at 7:30 p.m.
May 16
Art on the Green is set for 1-6 p.m. on the Elm Street Event Green. Free admission.
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