Tupper Arts now on road to permanent home

Tupper Arts has launched a capital campaign to purchase and renovate their leased space at 106 Park St. in Tupper Lake. Tupper Arts has occupied the space since August 2018. It has been a goal of their board of directors to one day purchase the property and create a permanent home for Tupper Arts. That “one day” may become a reality for 2021.

The capital campaign began with a mass mailing to property owners in the Tupper Lake area, and an online donation page on the Tupper Arts website – www.tupperarts.org. The overall fundraising goal for the Campaign is to raise $450,000 to purchase and renovate the property.

In just a few short weeks Tupper Arts has raised over $ 32,000 towards this goal. The next phase of the campaign is to more widely publicize the fundraising effort.

Tupper Arts has just received a generous offer from Joe and Rena Sellin to put up a $25,000 matching donation. If Tupper Arts is able to raise an additional $25,000, the Sellins will match that amount. The Sellins sit on the board of directors of Tupper Arts and are summer residents at Gull Pond. In addition to their board service, the Sellins both volunteer at the gift shop and at other events sponsored by Tupper Arts.

Tupper Arts is also excited to announce that it has been contacted by another very generous donor who has offered to loan the money to Tupper Arts for the purchase of the building. With this level of support and the overwhelming response of the community to date, Tupper Arts will have a permanent home on Park St. this year.

In addition to the purchase of 106 Park St., Tupper Arts plans to redo the façade of the building with a design that will complement the surrounding business community. The design pictured with this article is the work of Jesse Schwartzberg, of Black Mountain Architecture. The renovation will be partially funded by a Main Street Grant awarded to Tupper Arts.

Other renovation projects to be covered by the capital campaign include the addition of an air purification system to ensure proper air exchange, improved lighting for gallery viewing, and improvements to the roof and infrastructure.

Tupper Arts was created a little over two years ago and continues to be run by a group of enthusiastic volunteers dedicated to nurturing the arts, artists, and community life in Tupper Lake. By supporting and encouraging local artists, Tupper Arts is helping to enrich the cultural life of the entire community as we present art exhibits, concerts, theatrical performances, dance and art classes.

Despite limited resources, Tupper Arts has presented a tremendous number of programs that showcase the cultural potential of Tupper Lake and the Adirondacks, including the annual Tupper Lake Art Show, individual artists shows, children’s classes, season’s celebrations, a fall color plein air festival, and the establishment of an artist-driven gift shop.

The Covid 19 pandemic has imposed an unanticipated and extraordinary challenge to all our daily lives. With an abundance of caution and a compressed schedule, Tupper Arts opened last summer. The welcoming response of artists and art lovers was heartwarming. The second annual Woodcraft Show and Fall Plein Air Festival were held, in addition to individual and group artists’ painting, photography, sculpture and craft events. One particularly well received idea was the first “Moose on the Loose” show featuring the artwork of twenty four local artists on plywood moose cutouts. The “Moose” were auctioned off over the Labor Day weekend with donations going to the Tupper Arts.

Upcoming plans for Tupper Arts in 2021 include the Tupper Lake Annual Art Show, the Woodcraft Show, the Fall Plein Air Festival, another show featuring the photographs of Kathleen Bigrow, and a second “Moose on the Loose.” New this year is the “Give Us Your Best Shot” photography show and an exhibit of the paintings of Peter Hornbeck, and Adirondack boat builder and artist. Other shows are being planned for later 2021. Depending upon the timing of when the pandemic restrictions can be eased, Tupper Arts hopes to see the return of the Summer Sunset Stage Concert series, and the children’s Little Loggers Friday morning performances. Sunday matinee concerts are also planned through September, which are funded through the New York State Council on the Arts Decentralization Grants. Several artists will also be offering classes for children and adults in painting, pottery, paper making, and other art mediums.

Individuals or groups who are interested in supporting the fundraising efforts of Tupper Arts can make a donation online at www.tupperarts.org , or mail a donation to Tupper Arts at 106 Park St. in Tupper Lake. Tupper Arts is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit charitable organization, and all donations are tax deductible.