After five years of restorations, the historic Tashmoo Spring Building will be opening its doors to the public in artful style. Patricia Carlet of the Tashmoo Spring Building Restoration Committee commented, “It’s a beautiful brick building – a perfect place for an art opening.”
And so it will be Friday, Sept. 23, when the Restoration Committee begins a week-long Art Show Benefit – the first major event to be held at the restored building.
Close to 20 artists – all Tisbury Town employees, elected and appointed town officials, and board and committee members – will fill the building’s three rooms with a display of their work.
Many are established artists. Those exhibiting include Robert Aldrin, Barbara Bodin, Paul Brissette, John Bugbee, Betty Burton, Patricia Carlet, Liza Coogan, John Crelan, Ann Marie Cywinski, Anthony Guyther, Jennifer Langhammer, Scott Norbury, Carlton Sprague, Joseph Tonetti, Henry Stephenson, Lorraine Wells, and Denys Wortman. Their diverse assortment of photos, woodwork, ceramics, paintings, and crafts will be priced for sale, a portion of the proceeds being applied to the continuing restoration and preservation of the Tashmoo Spring Building.
The 1887 brick pumping station, recently added to the National Registry of Historic Buildings, was originally built to provide fresh water to West Chop. About seven years ago it was earmarked for demolition, but was rescued by the Restoration Committee and by private, state, local, and Tisbury Community Preservation funds.
Ms. Carlet described the work that has been accomplished: stabilizing the large chimney, shoring up the exterior walls, repairing the windows, making the building weather-tight, leveling the floors in each of the three rooms, and adding bathrooms.
“It’s not finished,” Ms. Carlet said, “but the hardwood floors are beautiful, and the light from the windows and the plants that Matt Tobin [Eden Garden Center] brought over make it look like a New York gallery loft.”
“This [benefit show] is just one way the building can be used,” said Denys Wortman, who with Lorraine Wells co-chairs the Restoration Committee. “I see it as a multi-purpose building that can be used for many town events.” He continued, “It’s a historic building in one of the most beautiful settings in Tisbury.”
The opening reception for the Art Benefit Show for Tashmoo Spring Building is Friday, Sept. 23, from 4:30 to 7 pm. The show runs for a week, Saturday, Sept. 24 through Friday, Sept. 30, 12 noon to 4 pm. Refreshments and music by The Tashmoo Trio. Look for signs by the stone entrance columns off State Road just before the Tashmoo Overlook.
