Celebration By The River Continued The Success Of BCC Expansion Project

By Shannon Hicks

BROOKFIELD — “Our biggest challenge is to get the local population to understand what a unique gem of a facility they have right here. This is a world-class, internationally known school, but we still have people visit us for the first time, from this area, who say ‘Wow, I had no idea what you folks were doing in here!’”

These were the words of Jack Russell, the executive director of Brookfield Craft Center (BCC), during the opening minutes of a party dubbed “Celebration by the River II.” The July 14 event marked the completion of the latest phase of a multi-layer campus renovations campaign BCC is in the midst of.

The craft center has in recent years become a leader in professional craft educational and exhibition fields, with students and artisans traveling to take classes and gain inspiration by viewing the work of others in a multi-building campus situated off Route 25 and along the banks of Still River. BCC’s main campus building is a former grist mill building that was built by Able Barnum around 1780.

After years as a central part of the rural life of western Connecticut, along with the work that was done at the nearby Ironworks Neighborhood, Brookfield Craft Center was founded in 1952. That year, founder Nancy Dubois Hagmayer purchased the property at 286 Whisconier Road for $5 and a center for fine craftsmanship was born.

BCC meets its operating expenses primarily through tuition for its year-round programs and the sale of handmade craftwork in the first floor showcase area of its main building. The capital repairs and major improvements are being supported by donations and contributions from individuals, foundations, and corporate donors. More than $450,000 has been raised toward the campus renovation campaign to date.

The reason for the major overhaul throughout the campus now is that the last major capital improvements to the school were made more than three decades ago. With the recently increased utilization of BCC’s buildings and grounds, the physical plant is being taxed to the limit, according to a campaign outline document.

More space for gallery shows, offices, and teaching studios were all essential components of the upgrading plan. Other specifications during the first and second and second phases called for structural work on outer buildings, including the weatherization of buildings such as the old weaving studio cottage, and the creation and building of The Good Forge Blacksmithing Studio. With the recent weatherization of the cottage building, BCC last week marked the mid-way point of Phase Three.

“Celebration by the River II” invited faculty members, trustees, advisory and honorary board members, and special friends of the institution to enjoy the most recently completed stages of a multi-year major renovation. Among the first things that struck visitors on Friday were the brand-new stone walkways linking the main campus building to the weaving cottage.

“We literally just finished this,” gallery director Judith Russell said. “The crew finished laying the stonework around 9:30 last night.” In addition to the walkway, new retaining walls are in place.

Brookfield Craft Center has remained open during all phases of its renovations. While last weekend’s celebration was by invitation, the public has been welcome to observe and enjoy all of the facility’s changes as they have been ongoing.

Already completed were Phase One and Phase Two, which included in part a rebuilt roof for the mill building and the restoration of the historic Brookfield Mills sign on the building’s exterior, which greets travelers through the busy four corners section of Routes 7 and 25 (Whisconier Road).

Among Phase Two’s completed projects was the expanded Lynn Tendler Bignell Exhibition Gallery, now called LTB Gallery. Faculty office spaces have been moved to the upper floor of the building, which allowed a total reconfiguration of the gallery and retail sales display areas. The sales area, thanks to a redesign by the retail design firm Ed Secon Designs, now offers 1,300 square feet for exhibition and sales programming.

The Good Forge Blacksmith Studio is up and operational (see related story, The Newtown Bee, July 30, 1999), and the weaving studio cottage has been expanded and redeveloped during the past year. The cottage now has a new foundation and structural support, new gutters and drainage system, improved lighting, a new roof, new fire safety equipment, and expanded exterior deck areas.

“I was here about 20 years ago to take a quilting class, long before this studio was winterized,” Jane Pollack said Friday afternoon. “What a change! This is very exciting.” Ms Pollack arrived two decades ago as a student, but has stayed on at the center and is now one of its teachers.

Next up on the campus renovation will be work on the visiting faculty residence. Originally built as the miller’s house when the property’s original grist mill was operational, circa 1800, the building has been added on to many times over its two centuries of service. The building is home to a conference room and a small apartment for long-term residency for visiting artists. The building is in good structural shape.

BCC’s plans will, at an expected cost of $145,500, repair the exterior siding, sills, doors, and windows; put on new gutters and drainage systems; landscaping will be done; structural supports will be improved; plumbing and electrical service will be upgraded; fire safety equipment will also be upgraded; connections will go in for the exterior water and sewer systems.

Also left to work on are The Barn Studios, which are also circa 1800. The post and beam structure is currently home the BCC’s ceramics studio, woodworking studio, and paper/book arts studio. Loft spaces can be developed into program usage, but the key elements of renovation for the studio building includes replacement of the exterior siding, adding gutters and the ground water damage system, landscaping, replacing the building’s front doors, replacing the flooring, and upgrades on the water and sewer systems, among other priorities. Estimated costs for The Barn Studios is $250,500.

When all is said and done, landscape architect Tara M. Goldberg’s plan for the full Brookfield Craft Center campus will “transform [the] unique property overlooking the Still River and Halfway Falls into a park-like environment of native plantings, natural stone walkways, wooden decks, clay terraces, and other craft-related detail work,” according to the renovation plan.

“Tara’s Plan,” as the master landscape plan has been nicknamed, will offer visitors a safer and better lit campus that will be open for visitors to explore year-round.