Outdoor Art Exhibit
Pool wall facing back parking lot.
Around 1980, the window openings for the historic, 107-year-old former school building that now houses the non-profit Plymouth Arts & Recreation Complex (PARC) were mostly or completely “filled in” (to conserve energy). In 2023, as a key part of efforts to restore the building’s historic character, PARC re-opened the vast majority of original openings and installed about 350 original-size, energy-efficient windows. Due to various construction projects through the years when it was a school, however, it wasn’t possible or sensible to restore some of the original openings.
In a case of serendipity, Patty Malcolm (who along with husband Mark bought the historic school and donated it to become PARC) passed by an old building in downtown Chelsea that had a filled-in window in which someone had done a painting; inspired, Patty immediately declared: “We should do that at PARC!” The Malcolms then partnered with Joan Witte and Molly Bell (from the Plymouth Artist Collective, housed at PARC) and Erin Harvey (from FARO Imaging) to turn the vision into reality. Key elements of the plan:
- Local artists were solicited to create and submit potential works for an exhibit called “Windows into PARC”, so named to encourage art works that evoke activities or scenes that one could imagine seeing if the filled-in windows were actual windows looking into the wonderfully diverse and dynamic Plymouth Arts & Recreation Complex.
- About 80 works were submitted. Those were curated by a committee of PARC resident artists and displayed as a two-month exhibit in the PARC Art Gallery. The works to be included in the outdoor exhibit were then selected by the Malcolms, who funded the project (paying artists for digital images of the chosen works and the subsequent reproduction and installation).
- Chosen images were sized to fit the various window openings and printed on a medium capable of lasting several years outside.
The initial plan called for six works installed on one outside wall, but the Malcolms were so impressed by the artists’ submissions that the exhibit was expanded to eighteen pieces on three walls. That includes P-A-R-C lettering interspersed by three artworks in the large filled-in windows on the pool wall facing the parking lot (an idea provided by PARC Board member, Steve Ward). Installation of the outside exhibit was completed November 21. The artists with displayed outside works are: Linda Bedard, Molly Bell, Lindsay Bower, Cheryl Chidester, Amy Fell, Victoria Fritz, James Guy, Michaele Kadell, Thomas Rosenbaum, Christine Walters, Sharlene Walton, Joan Witte, and Denise Cassidy Wood; PARC letters by Janisse Larsson.
1 of 9 nature-themed artworks near the main back entrance, overlooking one of PARC’s 26 rain gardens.
The northernmost wall facing the parking lot.
We hope the art makes visitors smile and provides a reminder of PARC’s community-focused Mission: “To enrich lives through quality arts, education, and recreation programs for all ages.” As Mark Malcolm observed at the artist reception to announce the chosen works: “Windows into PARC is both a symbolic and real transition of the exterior of the historic building from its first hundred years as a school to its next hundred years as an Arts & Recreation Complex!”
Coming in 2025, another 21 pieces of art will be added to our outdoor gallery. In the meantime enjoy a virtual preview of the wonderful art.
The Phase II featured artists are Cheryl Chidester, James Guy, Terri Haranczak, Kseniya Hauptmann, Virginia Holland, Kelli Kane, Janisse Larsson, Elizabeth Lewandowski, Alessandra Lipman, Jill McClain, Gaylotta Murray, thomas rosenbaum, Bill Schahfer, Carol Stevens, Leonid Tikh, Deborah Walters, Christine Walters, Sharlene Welton, and Joan Witte.
Erin Harvey, Joan Witte, Patty Malcolm, Molly Bell, and Amy Fell in front of Amy’s artwork.