Carriage Barn Arts Center celebrates its new season with NCPA and the opening of THE BARN and BEYOND

On the evening of October 11th,  the Carriage Barn Arts Center hosted its opening of The Barn and Beyond, sponsored by the New Canaan Preservation Alliance and Karl Chevrolet. The exhibition, curated by the Co-Directors Arianne Faber Kolb and Eleanor Flatow, reflects the historical significance of the gallery space and celebrates the noteworthy collection of barns in New Canaan and the beauty and relevance of these iconic structures throughout America.

The event, which was attended by a large crowd, was sponsored and organized by the New Canaan Preservation Alliance. A bountiful display of delicious hors d’oeuvres catered by Boulevard 18 was surrounded by magnificent fall flower arrangements. The exterior of the barn was beautifully decorated with hay bales, corn stalks, mums, and lanterns lighting the pathway to the open barn doors. In the newly cleared courtyard were the large leaf sculptures of the New Canaan artist Dan Bergfeld. In attendance was also the renowned sculptor James Grashow, who created a fantastic display of 32 monkeys swinging from the rafters. His wonderful vision animated and activated the soaring barn space. Such an installation is a prime example of the inspirational quality of the gallery for artists. The architect Richard Bergmann, who was present at the opening, was also recognized as one of the key people responsible for restoring the barn and transforming it into a gallery in 1977.

Rose Scott Long, the President of the NCPA, gave a speech emphasizing the show’s cultural and architectural value to New Canaan.   She said, “This exhibit has brought together all of these representations of New Canaan’s historic barns and agricultural history under one historic barn roof as a celebration of New Canaan’s agricultural history and an appreciation of these associated structures.”

The NCPA advocates for the retention of historic barns that dot our New Canaan landscape. “We can honor this past with exhibits such as this and by taking steps towards preserving and maintaining these essential elements in our community’s landscape.” The Alliance applauds and supports examples of adaptive reuse, a sustainable strategy making use of existing materials as part of our observation that the greenest building is often the building which already exists!

Scott Long made special mention of Kip Farrell, a resident of New Canaan, who has made a huge difference and contributed to the show. Farrell had worked tirelessly over 20 years to photograph, document, and research the barns of New Canaan.  Her efforts on behalf of barns and working with the New Canaan Historical Society resulted in the enactment of an amendment to the New Canaan Zoning Regulations to preserve barns and other historic structures.  Scott Long said, “These memorable features – older houses and neighborhoods, venerable trees, rambling stone walls, rural vistas, AND barns – which so easily can be taken for granted, contribute to our local identity, to our high quality of life and to our property values.”

THE BARN and BEYOND show will be on view through November 2nd. Gallery Hours are Wednesday - Saturday, 10 AM - 3PM; Sunday, 1 - 5PM.  The Carriage Barn Arts Center is located in Waveny Park in New Canaan. For more information please see our website, www.carriagebarn.org or call, (203) 972 1895.