Fulcrum Arts Center: A Work in Progress
Work is well underway on the new Fulcrum Arts Center. This collaborative endeavor between Natalie Blake Studios and Solinglass will be a "not-to-be-missed" arts destination in Brattleboro, VT. The Fulcrum Arts Center will house a gallery and studio facilities that will provide numerous ways for prospective buyers to view finished works and work in progress; as well as to learn about the tools, techniques, and artistry of fine glass and handmade ceramic pieces. Interested collectors and buyers will be able to purchase finished one-of-a-kind pieces and functional wares and commission new work. We will offer design consultation for in-home art placement as well. Solin and Blake, both highly exclaimed artists in their fields, will teach master classes and workshops.
Work on the building began in July, when Nick, our master builder, pulled out 7,500 square feet of drop ceiling tiles and insulation! We want our new space to be energy efficient so some of this insulation will be used to insulate the Solinglass studio and to provide soundproofing.
Our new digs will be warm in the winter, thanks to a heat recapture system that Nick is designing. He's reconfiguring the existing forced hot air system to recapture Solinglass' furnace heat.
You can find regular updates on our work on Facebook.
Here are some updated photos of the work-in-progress:
During the past few weeks Nick and his crew have been framing up the interior walls for the office, gallery, kitchen, bathrooms, studios and kiln room. Here's a short video showing the interior:
According to Nick, about 95% of the interior walls are now framed. Dry walling will begin in a few weeks.
Our spacious backyard will be a great hangout spot for our crews and our dogs (there are 4 dogs between the 2 studios).
And, because we love to have fun and stay fit, we're planning to have a Stair Master in the building and a kayak out back since our property abuts the beautiful, highly-kayakable West River!
Natalie made her first work in the new building last Friday: handmade ceramic bowls. These ceramic pieces were made as thank you gifts for Natalie's friends and family to thank them for helping to find her missing dog, Tank, when he strayed from the Cotton Mill building last week.
We can't wait to move in and have you visit!
Natalie Blake Studios Ceramic Wall Art Wins Award
Our ceramic wall art is now officially award-winning! The news has us very excited, so pardon the exclamation points: we won a gallery award at Art Comes Alive! The annual fine art contest and exhibit took place this past weekend in Cincinnati, OH. We are honored that our tile art was voted into the exhibit, and even more so to receive a contract award from Gallery One, Naples, FL. This is the piece that got us there: "Botanical", a 42" x 56" ceramic wall art mural, glazed in honey, turquoise, cashew, moss and jade.
handmade, ceramic wall art tile
According to the Art Comes Alive sponsors, Art Design Consultants, Inc., the awards recognize the “brightest and best artists in a variety of categories.” Our piece is one of 150 chosen for the exhibit, out of a staggering 1,500 entries. Getting our tile art mural into the exhibit itself is no small feat, and requires an intense jurying process.
Roy Saper, owner of Saper Galleries and Custom Framing, was one of the jurors responsible for choosing pieces for the exhibit. “The online jurying process took me hours. And hours. And hours,” he said. And no wonder, with so many pieces of art in the mix. After each juror reviews each piece, the ones with the most votes are included in the exhibit. From that list, galleries and award donors choose the recipients of their awards.
That's where Gallery One comes in – they awarded us a gallery award, and will now carry our work at their gallery in Naples, FL. We will be honored to be represented by this great gallery, which also represents our good friend, fabulous Vermont artist and Fulcrum Arts Center business partner, Randi Solin of Solinglass. Funnily enough, we will share Gallery One with Dr. Seuss as well.