PADUCAH ARTIST RELOCATION PROGRAM-3 We wait our turn

Domes on Broadway pastel 24x38

In February, 2001 we commit ourselves to the program and in the fall we purchase our “dream home”. Construction begins early the following spring, and by August of 2002 we are in our new home in our new neighborhood in our new town.

During this time Mark Barone and the city were busy little beavers, receiving numerous inquiries and visits by other artists from all over the country. By the time we arrived Charlotte and Ike and Freda were already here, and shortly afterwards we were joined by Mark P. and Denise and Craig, and the Lowertown art district began to have faces and names! Others soon followed: Nancy and Charlie, Paul and Louis, Lorrie,and Marta and Joel.
The community grew exponentially, far beyond what anyone honestly anticipated, and it was exciting to be a part of that experience. (The artists mentioned here, and those that followed, can be found on the programs web site, www.paducaharts.com.) The city of Paducah and the folks at Paducah Bank welcomed us warmly, as did the residents of Lowertown who persisted through its difficult times. Since its inception 60-70 new residents have moved into the neighborhood, most of them artists (painters, printmakers, photographers, writers, scultpers, architects, and potters.)


Freda's home and studio-later moved her studio to Studio Miska


Marta & Joel-home, studio, and gallery


Nancy and Charlie, home and studio/gallery


Lewis & Paul, home, studio, and gallery

The city was doing more than recruiting artists; the new River Heritage Museum was completed and included the Maiden Alley Cinema, the home of the Paducah Film Society, and construction began on the 40+ million dollar Performing Arts Center, to be the home of major performing artists, local presentations, and a series of Broadway shows. (Jerry Seinfeld is appearing tonite and tomorrow.)

Next- 803 Madison St. and Gallery 5

PADUCAH'S ARTIST RELOCATION PROGRAM-2 A day in Paducah

After a leisurely breakfast at the B&B we met Mark Barone who preceded to give us the “tour” and the soft sell, or was it a hard sell? Mark is an artist who lived in Lowertown and was the driving force behind the relocation program. At this point I don’t remember the order in which the day unfolded, but in its course we toured the lowertown neighborhood, and met the directors of the American Quilt Society Museum, the River Heritage Museum, the Yeiser Art Center, and the Market House Theater. We met the city planner, several city commissioners, and had lunch with the mayor. It was their energy and enthusiasm for the program and the city that impressed me more than anything else.

As far as Lowertown was concerned, well, I really was not that impressed. The neighborhood of approximately 24 square blocks is listed on the national registry of historic places and consisted of a very eclectic mixture of homes, apartment buildings and abandoned store fronts. There were pockets of well maintained lovely victorian homes and cottages, but these were outnumbered by derelict structures in need of severe attention, as well as some forlorn buildings that begged to be demolished. To call them “fixer uppers” was a real stretch. Their greatest appeal was their affordability. Rehab cost was another matter.

As usual, my wife was right, and even though I wouldn’t acknowledge it to myself, and we would return soon for a closer look, there was a place within me that had already made the decision. It doesn’t surprise me since this is the way in which I have made so many of the major decisions in my life.

We returned to Paducah two months later and found our “dream home”, hoping we could buy it before it was demolished.


803 Madison St. Our dream home!


Me and 803


Demolition order on 803

When P’s friends, who were already upset at my taking her so far away from them, saw these pictures they threatened to take out a contract on me


The back yard at 803


Interior of what would become our dining room and kitchen.

I will have more to say about Paducah, our new home, and the artists that would soon be joining us in future posts.

PADUCAH'S ARTIST RELOCATION PROGRAM

A bit of Paducah WC aprox. 12x30

Seven years ago this month Patience and I visited Paducah for the first time. I saw the small ad in Art Calendar that read, “Artist Relocation Program”, Paducah Kentucky. It was eight years after opening our new medical practice on our farm and I was growing increasingly anxious to return to my art, looking forward to be able to give it all of my time and energy.
As a result, I was quite susceptible to anything that might promise me that opportunity.

We decided to visit in January, thinking we should see the town in mid winter when everything looks bleak and forlorn, putting it to a rather severe test. It is a long 14-15 hour drive from our farm in Maryland to Paducah, and we arrived outside the town just after dark. We were both somewhat anxious as we approached the city from the south side loop, and became very quiet, keeping our skepticism to ourselves as we drove by the cement plant and the large fuel tanks on rt. 60 just outside of town. I thought to myself, “what in the hell are we doing here”, and was certain that P was thinking the same thing. Our anxiety was heightened by a bit of confusion caused by my navigating; I thought we were entering from the west side (Park Ave.), and drove through town twice before figuring this out. We had reservations at the Harbor Plaza B&B, and by the time we turned onto Broadway we were both pretty “wired”.

We were greeted by a quiet downtown street, illuminated by festive Christmas lights and lined with well manicured turn of the century buildings, everything my urban loving heart desired after 17 years of farm life. I loved it! We located the B&B and met Beverly, our delightful hostess, who led us to our room, a warm and wondrous highly Victorian cocoon that eliminated the last remnants of our anxieties. Next on our agenda was dinner, and for this we walked to the end of the block to Jeremiah’s, where we enjoyed our first meal in Paducah.

We had plans to meet Mark Barone in the morning who would show us the city and tell us about the relocation program. But P is convinced that as soon as I turned onto Broadway she knew we would be coming to Paducah.

next post...Lowertown and more



Jerimiah's...(restaurant on the right) WC 22x30