From Possibility to Reality

Published: June 22, 2007 « Back to Latest News

Summer is around the corner and the Falmouth Artists Guild is buzzing with new exhibits, classes, and workshops for all people: young children and retirees, new students and seasoned artists, photographers and sculptors. Children’s classes are a specialty and have sold out in the past. Classes are offered during school vacations or in the summer season. Falmouth High School art students have a special wall at the Guild on which to display their artwork. This gives the art students pride in their accomplished artwork enriching their lives and those who enjoy their exhibitions.
            The Guild’s Capital Campaign is in its final stages and the Guild is in need of a final donation totaling $400,000 to close the gap in total monies needed to break ground this year. The Guild is reaching out to the community and general public to donate any amount, large or small, to assist in reaching this campaign goal. There is excitement in the air as the work of many volunteers, staff, board members, and club officers look forward to meeting this goal.
            Last year the Guild celebrated its 40th birthday. Several years ago, what began as a group of artists gathering in each other’s homes, soon became the Falmouth Artists Guild with the members meeting in a town building. Using that facility came to a halt in the late 1990s when the town took over the building for repairs and the Guild needed to find its own space. Since that time, the current rented Guild facility located on the lower level basement floor at 311R Main Street is severely limited without  basics: sufficient lighting, heat, or air conditioning. The time is here and now to change all those circumstances.
            Despite the limitations of its current space, the Guild has managed to keep classes, workshops and exhibitions going and even increased its membership. The membership, now over 300, has definitely outgrown its current location. Mr. Christopher Wise donated a parcel of land on Dillingham Avenue to the Guild. Mr.Wise explains his very generous gift, “I grew up in the arts. My mother is an artist, so I know the fantastic benefits that art can bring to people’s lives. Developing a strong arts center is good for communities and community building. I am an enthusiastic supporter of this project and encourage residents to help make the plans reality.” 
Falmouth architect Mr. Fred Giampietro of Giampietro Associates designed the new facility that incorporates energy-saving features, particularly with respect to insulation and lighting, with proposed design allowing for future expansion as needed. Its attractive setting is suitable for en plein air painting and a sculpture garden is planned for a later phase. Construction of this new art center is the foundation piece of the Guild’s mission to reach out to more people to further improve the quality of our programs, to collaborate with other organizations, and to advance the celebration of visual arts for all. Both the Guild president, Landy Landrau and Jill Tompkins, executive director agree, “Art is for everyone!”
             Falmouth’s population has undergone tremendous growth. It is now 32,660 year round residents, an increase of almost 17% from the 1990-2000 census. In summertime, this figure almost triples, not counting day visitors. “The new center will make a great difference – a state-of-the-art building where everyone from children to adults takes part in creative activities which is so critical to people’s lives,” notes Christine Ross, Falmouth Chamber of Commerce Director.
            The Guild collaborates with area schools, community organizations such as the Falmouth Historical Society, the Falmouth Garden Club, the Bed and Breakfast Association, The Falmouth Chamber of Commerce, and the Falmouth Village Association. Arts Alive Festival is one such upcoming festival that will be held on the common with activities for all ages. Chalk-painting, music, art demonstrations, are just some of the features of this year’s Arts Alive Festival.    It will be held on Friday, June 22, Saturday, 23, and Sunday, June 24. Please contact the Guild for each day’s listing of activities (508-540-3304). 
There are a wide range of classes in various media for established and new artists, workshops by local, regional, and national instructors who attract students from the Cape and beyond, community art events, such as auctions and festivals, exhibitions and national juried art shows.
            As much as the Guild now provides to the community, with the new Community Art Center, the Guild will be positioned to expand greatly its contributions to Falmouth’s lively arts scene and to the Upper Cape economy. Over 400 people have contributed to this capital campaign but most notably many large donations have been made by those who are not artists or members of the Guild but recognize the Guild’s important role in the visual arts for this community. For this, the Guild is most grateful. The Guild is appealing to the public to assist in closing the financial gap. Help the Guild break ground this year and move the grand opening date from a possibility to reality. Art is for everyone, make it, enjoy it, support it! 
Written by Ellen Lennon. This article was published in the Falmouth Enterprise, Friday, June 22, 2007