How to support local artists working to create an art, gathering space in Philipsburg
To give the community a welcoming, safe space to create and enjoy art, two local artists are pouring their hearts and souls into renovating a space in downtown Philipsburg, with the help of their friends, family and community.
Local artists Lynn Anne Verbeck and Adrienne Waterston are working together to bring their “brainchild” to life in Philipsburg. The ARTery will include an art space featuring pottery and silkscreen printmaking facilities for artists and community members. A coffee shop and lobby with an art gallery and art shop will be in the front part of the building.
The space is located at 104 N. Front Street, in a building that’s being revitalized by the Philipsburg Revitalization Corporation. Verbeck and Waterston are assisting with the renovations, both demolition and build out of the space. The artists said when the PRC first purchased the building, it was full of garbage. The PRC, they said, has already done a lot of work.
“It’s the biggest labor of love I’ve ever seen,” Verbeck said. “They don’t want to tear all the buildings down. They’re trying to fix them and make our town welcoming and habitable by businesses. ... There’s a lot more apartments downtown and I feel like the energy is coming back. It’s set to thrive downtown.”
Waterston said they want to be part of that thriving downtown. She gave credit to the businesses that have already invested in Front Street, like Shindig Alley, Rowland Theatre, Bluebird and Fox, and Brown Dog Catering, for starting some momentum in the area.
The vision is for the ARTery to be an inclusive place for anyone to take refuge, create art, sip some coffee or even just sit in the lounge and enjoy an art book, Verbeck said.
Melissa Heartsong will be behind the coffee, running Heartsong Cafe. She envisions a warm atmosphere for people to enjoy beverages and nourishing food with a health minded focus, she said.
“...There’s going to be open mic, there’s going to be a space for people to practice if they want to try their comedy or just your basic open mic, you know, with poetry and ideas,” Heartsong said. “There’s a space for everybody at the ARTery and Heartsong Cafe.”
The cafe will also include a gallery wall featuring local art work and a gallery shop where people can support local artists.
“I have so many people reaching out ... that want to bring their work and sell it in our gallery shop and having this place that they can, you know, show their work and have people come in and see it, it’s so exciting,” Verbeck said.
They also plan to incorporate other pop-up art classes every Friday night. It would be a one-time art class, so it won’t be a big commitment for people but gives them the opportunity to learn something new and engage in the arts.
But to get there, Verbeck and Waterston are asking for the community’s help. They started a GoFundMe for monetary donations, but they also included a list of items they’ll need.
The space is down to the walls and what is left of the floor, Waterston said. The space is “raw,” so they’ve committed themselves to working in the space to make it serviceable. They’re contributing some of their own art supplies, equipment and other items for the ARTery.
“But it’s not cheap, none of it’s cheap and we’re self funded,” Waterston said. Any donations will help them “get off the ground,” she said.
Verbeck said the items listed on the GoFundMe — work tables, ink, shelves, office supplies — is just a portion of what they actually need and what they’ll be putting in, but it will help to get the doors open.
“We’re committed — all of our resources, time, financial resources, energy — to making this space for our community,” Verbeck said.
The community support for the ARTery, so far, has been tremendous, they said.
“It almost brings me to tears. I’ll be walking through our town and people will come up and get so excited about it and ask about it and say how proud they are of us and they can’t wait to come in and it just, it touches my heart deeply. I’m so grateful for the positive response and our community. It’s been wonderful.” Verbeck said.
The timeline for the opening of ARTery depends on the shape of the building and how long it takes to make the building serviceable. The original plan was for April, though that could change.
To learn more about the project, visit www.arterypa.com. To donate or view the GoFundMe, visit www.gofundme.com/f/the-artery-needs-you.
