“The block built by Henry G. and Lemuel Sears around 1896 is a fine example of late 19th century classicism. Above the usual utilitarian storefront…is the turn-of-the-century merchant’s interpretation of an Italian palazzo. The second and third floor windows are encased in pairs of two-story semi-circular arches. The third floor suggests an arcade with its three groups of five arched windows. All arches are defined by several courses of yellow brick while the rest of the building is red brick.”
Nora Pat Small, Preservation Consultant, June, 1984
Paper City Studios, LLC at 80 Race Street in Holyoke was founded in August 2007 by Bruce Fowler and Nancy Sachs. The building, described above, is located along the Second level Canal. It has a long history as a wholesale and retail grocer’s warehouse and most recently a local beer and wine distributor and realty. The current owners, both artists, purchased the building with the vision of establishing an active community of working artists both within the building proper and in collaboration with other area artists and the community at large.
Bruce Fowler, MFA in sculpture and former designer builder and Nancy Sachs, a ceramic sculptor and social worker bring their collective skills and experience to the Race Street project. They are developing a 36,000 sq ft mixed use arts building in the Historic Canal District combining ground floor commercial space with artists studio rentals on the 2nd and 3rd floors. The 4th floor attic has evolved into a stunning raw 6600 sq ft all purpose installation/ dance/performance space … for now. The plan is to expand this space into additional artist studio work spaces. A former carriage house made of brick, currently connected by a narrow sky lit staircase to the main front building, will hopefully one day house shared classroom/shop/studio space. Current tenants include: a photographer, clothing designer, mixed media artist, print maker, graphic designer, installation and performance artists. The commercial businesses are currently in transition and include ‘green’ engineering entrepreneurs and an electrical contractor. The economic revival of downtown Holyoke and promotion and support of the Canalwalk project are also important components of their mission. Bruce and Nancy have hopes to include a café and gallery performance space on the ground floor as well.
Right now it’s all a work in process…
