There’s something in the air on High Street. Cool, refreshing gusts of vibrancy are breathing life into Hamilton’s entire downtown district and beyond. The “American Cape” statue of the City’s namesake, Alexander Hamilton—one of the City’s most defining pieces of art and identity- is depicted flowing fiercely in those winds. And the Revolutionary’s cape is furling in the direction of one of the many success stories of downtown Hamilton’s revitalization: Artspace Hamilton Lofts.
Located at 222 High Street, Artspace Hamilton Lofts offers forty-two units of affordable live/work space for artists and their families. Additionally, it provides commercial space for two businesses, The Almond Sisters’ Bakery and Renaissance Fine Art Supplies, as well as its Residential Gallery—all with entrances on High Street.
The project—a partnership with Neighborhood Housing Services of Hamilton and with support from artists, City officials and neighborhood and philanthropic leaders—was about two decades in the making. It was conceived in the early 1990s by Rick H. Jones (Executive Director at the Fitton Center for Fine Arts from 1991-2015 and owner of Renaissance Fine Art Supplies) after viewing the original Artspace in Minneapolis in 1987. It was approved under former Mayor Don Ryan, designed by Mike Dingeldein of Community Design Alliance, and opened in 2015 under current City Manager Joshua Smith.
The Artspace building is a work of art in and of itself, showcasing modernized rehabilitation of two internally connected historic buildings: a 1900 French Renaissance masterpiece original known as the Mehrum Building (and more famously known as the former Strauss Department Store) and the 1913 Lindley Block.
But Artspace Hamilton is about more than a beautiful space; it’s about a meaningful one. It is about the many talented and grateful artists who live and work there and the commitment they’re making towards embodying the mission of Artspace Projects, as well as contributing their part, art and talents toward the fulfillment of a vision of the City of Hamilton’s future as laid out by its leadership.
While Artspace Projects exists “to create, foster, and preserve affordable and sustainable space for artists and arts organizations”, Artspace Hamilton Lofts has adopted a local motto: “Artists in Service to the City of Sculpture”.
2018 has been Artspace Hamilton’s break-out year on both those fronts. Not only have its units been at or near full occupancy with qualified artists who live, play and spend downtown, its tenants have hosted monthly events and exhibitions since January, each with well-attended Opening Night parties, all of which are free to the public, in the newly established domestic non-profit Strauss Gallery.
Those events include several resident shows, “The PUSH Show”—a nod to pioneers of Hamilton’s current arts and culture scene, “Terra Firma”—which featured the landscape artwork of North End’s Ruth Meadows—and most recently, “Dimensions: A Community Built Interactive Display of Cardboard, Paper and String”.
Artspace Hamilton has hosted several music event nights too, including a “Ronin Taiko” Japanese Drum demonstration, the “First Farewell” Concert of Alma Jean Smith (a former member of the New York Metropolitan Opera, who also toured with Luciano Pavarotti), as well performances by local bands Victor Spoils and Circle It, both of which have members who live at Artspace.
And the Strauss Gallery—named as such to honor of the building’s history—is planning to end the year with a bang.
On December 6th, during Alive After 5, Artspace will host its Grand Opening Party of “Strauss Reborn!” (running December 6-January 4). By popular request, “Alma Jean Smith and Friends” will be returning for a concert from 6:30-7pm and they may stick around for some holiday caroling throughout the evening. They’ll be the first to officially perform on “The 17 Strong Stage”, so named in thanks to a generous grant received through Hamilton’s 17 Strong Neighborhoods Initiative. 17 Strong will be honored at the start of the event with a brief stage dedication ceremony and sign unveiling.
Artspace will also be hosting a holiday party on December 19 for the downtown chapter of 17 Strong, aka Hamilton PROUD: “Proactive Residents of Our Unique Downtown”. All who live or work downtown are invited to attend.
Joshua Morrow, the 2018 elected president of Artspace’s Events and Exhibitions Committee, will be the first to tell you that the rebirth of “The Strauss” has been a community-wide effort of artists and supporters. He adds, “Artspace is a special opportunity for artists of all abilities. We’re building a community of support through Hamilton for authentic expression and a unique appreciation for the arts in our beautiful city. I can tell you for me, being a part of Artspace has truly been a dream come true.”
Indeed, Artspace Hamilton’s success is not one claimed to be of its own making. Its empowered by the mighty and uplifting winds of vitality currently sweeping through downtown Hamilton and perpetually through Alexander’s “American Cape”.