Renovations Of Craft Center’s Two Galleries Completed

BROOKFIELD — After two years of planning, fundraising and repairs and renovations, the galleries at Brookfield Craft Center are enjoying a real renaissance. Housed in a picturesque restored grist mill of the 1780s, the two newly expanded gallery spaces “have never looked better,” says Jack Russell, the executive director of Brookfield Craft Center since 1980.

The six-figure renovations have more than doubled the craft center’s display space. By moving administrative offices one level upstairs, the center’s entire ground floor is now all gallery display space. Two new sales desks have been added, for faster service and better visual coverage, and there is a comfortable library/information area with a sofa and table for customers.

The national profile non-profit organization located in the Candlewood Lake district of western Connecticut was founded in 1954. Its mission has always been to “preserve and promote the skills and values of fine craftsmanship.” Today it is recognized as one of the nation’s top crafts centers. The center also offers professional level classes and workshops taught by visiting artists from across the country.

In 1998, the center embarked upon an ambitious campaign to renovate and expand its gallery program, dividing it into two sections: an exhibitions gallery which hosts originally curated shows of collector and museum-quality work and a “multiples” gallery featuring high-end handmade production work exclusively by American artists.

Since the mid 1980s, gallery sales have been rising at double-digit rates, according to Judith T. Russell. Mrs Russell, the center’s gallery director, also directs Brookfield Craft Center’s legendary holiday exhibition and sale, which expands the building’s Multiples Gallery to include two more floors in the old mill building during the months of November and December.

The new Lynn Tendler Bignell Exhibition Gallery occupies about 800 square feet on the main level of the four-story building. It was named in honor of the late Lynn Tendler Bignell of Sherman, whose family created a foundation in her memory to support fine crafts, which was one of her passions.

The LTB Gallery Program produces five original shows annually, each working with national profile guest curators. The shows focus on cutting edge issues and important concepts affecting the contemporary craft movement. The gallery’s current offering, “Horizons 2000: Artist Woodturners,” on view through August 14, presents pieces by 38 international profile woodturners. Guest curator David Ellsworth challenged the artists to present pieces that speak of their personal exploration and artistic growth.

The Multiples Gallery is directly adjacent to the LTB Exhibition Gallery. It measures approximately 1,000 square feet in size.

“The last major renovations to our historic buildings were made more than 30 years ago,” pointed out Jack Russell. “With gallery sales growing significantly each year, we desperately needed more space and an improved retail environment. During the last decade, the center has become a major state tourism asset and destination, so our facilities need to be top notch,” he added.

The new spaces are brighter and more airy, with more windows looking out over Still River and the whitewater at Halfway Falls.  Elegant new jewelry cases and display cabinets were created by the galleries by woodworker Cliff Moran of Ridgefield.

“We can now present larger and more complex shows in scope, as well as exhibit larger scale work such as furniture or architectural pieces,” said Judith Russell. “Bringing the outside environment into the gallery spaces creates many wonderful effects and different feelings throughout the day. The morning sunlight streams in and we have wonderful afternoon light as well.”

The renovations at Brookfield Craft Center are part of a strategic business plan which was created in the mid 1990s and includes renovations and expansions of the center’s additional four buildings and the full three-acre campus.

“Every change is strategic and has multiple effects,” says Mr Russell. “More gallery space lets us feature more work by more artists, which attracts more visitors and increases gallery sales, which in turn increases support of the craft artists who produce the work… which is at the core of our non-profit mission.”

The center hopes to have all four phases of its multi-year capital renovation campaign completed in time for its 50th anniversary in 2004. For more than four decades, Brookfield Craft Center has strived to support creativity, fine design and quality craftsmanship through a wide variety of educational and gallery programs. Its long-term goal is to become the craft center of the 21st Century, say the Russells.

Brookfield Craft Center is at 286 Whisconier Road/Route 25, just above the intersection with Route 7 (signs are posted). The center can be contacted by calling 775-4526 or visiting the Web site www.brookfieldcraftcenter.org.