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The Athensof South Norwalkby Virginia BatesThe Rowayton Arts Center today.Photo by Joan FilanLong ago when the century achieved its halfway mark some gifted wiseacre called Rowayton ‘The Athens of South Norwalk.”And, by the late 1950’s, Rowayton was home to a lot of artists.Many settled in the little town by the Five Mile River because they could afford it. You could buy a picturesque Rowayton house on a nice piece of land for about $20,(XX), and the town looked pretty much like the colorful fishing village it had always been.Rowayton artists got together and exhibited their works,sometimes outdoors, once or twice in the church, but mostly in neighboring towns. And it was to meet the needs of theseartists that three extraordinary men dreamed up the RowaytonArts Center.Longtime f riends Arno Schei-ding, William Gray Schaeferand Don Craig got together and thrashed out their ideas and goals for the new center, and, with the enthusiastic participation of dozens of friends—artists and nonartists—the ideas took form and substance.The three founders signed the official incorporation documents in I960, and the Rowayton Arts Center was off and running.Mr. Scheiding, a brilliantartist himself, was president;Mr. Schaefer, an innovative interior designer, was vicepresident, and Mr. Craig, whoowned the Rowayton Liquor Store and was friends with everyone in town, was treasurer. Members of the new organization scraped, painted and putup moldings to hang pictures for the first show on the top floor of 101 Rowayton Avenue. The little frame building threatened to collapse with the sheer number of celebrants at the opening.The young group imported composers to talk about music and writers like Kay Boyle to discuss her art. The parties they gave have achieved legendary status.Bill Schaefer conceived the idea of the annual “Bal de Tete.” Everybody competed for prizes for the creations they’d manufactured to wear on their heads. Some were beautiful; some were funny — many were productions that occupied their wearers’ creative hours for weeks. The pinkstucco house on the Soundwhere the event was held looked like it had been dreamed up by Scott Fitzgerald.At first, the gallery’ w’as manned by volunteers, but asthe center grew and moved tothe building it occupies today at 145 Rowayton Avenue, regular managers came on board. Among them were Porter Caesar, who could expound authoritatively on any subject under the sun; Mavis Fenner, whose encouraging w’ords arestill remembered by many artists; courtly Mike May, who was succeeded by his wife,Mary.Today, Joanne Schrciber presides at the desk. Later in the afternoon, Jim Parker will share the duty.The gallery spaces have recently been renovated, and the works that hang in the current ‘Walter Brooks Memorial Watercolor Show” look brilliantagainst the white walls. Paintings by Jim Minnicks and Gayle Asher sport blue ribbons — one for best in show’ and one for first prize. The artists seesaw’ between the two awards in every show they’re in.Nina Pallesen Craig at the 1965 “Bai de Tete” as a moth. Husband and Rowayton Arts Center, Treasurer, Don Craig came as a flame.A clear winter light streams through the glass doors that lead to the little porch at theback of the gallery. Whenspring and summer come, afternoon tea will be servedthere, and visitors can enjoy aview’ down the Five Mile River to the Sound.Upstairs can be heard theclatter of easels being folded.Ann Toulmin-Rothe’s painting class is ending. At the moment, about 15 classes and workshops occupy the upstairs studio. They range from paintingto dance, and, this month, eveninclude a workshop on self promotion for artists.Joanne Schreiber smilesbroadly as she listens to theToulmin-Rothe class coming dow’nstairs. “The perception is that this is a lively place, a professional place,” she says. TheRow’ayton Arts Center mounts a new exhibition every month inboth the Main and Portside Galleries. The April exhibition w ill be a retrospective of the works of Chip Chadbourne, one of the original arts center artists.The center is experiencingsteady growth. Membership in1996 has climbed to 543, and the number grows by 12 to 15 a month. According to Joanne Schreiber, the reason for the growth is obvious, “If this place is going through some sort of renaissance, it’s due to a hard-working board and dedicated teachers. It takes an awful lot of team work to pullthe whole thing together.”There is also team work between the arts center and the town. The Rowayton Civic Association owns the building, and the hardworking membersof the RAC’s House Committee sees to it that the property is one of the town’s prides. On Memorial Day weekend, therewill be an outside exhibition and sale at Pinkney Park and a float created by arts center members in the Memorial Day parade. Reviving the memory of the “Bal de tete”, marching members in the 1995 parade sported hats that were w’orks of art.Rowayton Arts Center hoursare noon to 5p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 1 to 4p.m on Sundays. For information, call 866-2744.
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Wilton Lifestyles
Wilton, Connecticut, US
Fri, Mar 01, 1996
Page 22
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USA 05 Jun 2022
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