Downtown Norwich

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by: Jill Kraft

For one local art gallery owner, opening a modern exhibit space in downtown Norwich is a dream she has held for a lifetime.

That dream became reality just over a year ago as Nicole Mazzole and her fiancee Isaiah Sutton opened their city venture.

Mazzole and Sutton opened The Art Upstairs Gallery in July of 2006, and since then, they have organized numerous art openings, musical performances and other art and music events. As for expanding the modern art market, Mazzole said, “We are filling a big hole.” She says the community is receptive to what she is trying to introduce, and there is definitely a need and want for the gallery in the area.

“We have a good response from artists, both locally and regionally,” said Mazzole. “We try to branch across Central New York,” she said.

Growing up in Norwich, Mazzole said she has seen the community offer more and more exposure to the fine arts, such as the Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival each September, and she wanted to offer the community something new and different. Mazzole says she sees a lot of art in the area, but feels the community needs to reach out to it.

The South Broad Street gallery, which Mazzole said she started as a studio and exhibition space for herself, has turned into an endeavor she feels is a true asset to the community at large.

“We love this community. Opening the gallery in a place like Norwich was perfect,” she said. Along with showing over 25 artists’ work within roughly a year, Mazzole sells handmade glass art made by artist Kristen Deady, a glass artist originally from Norwich. “She is the only artist we call a staple figure in the gallery,” said Mazzole.

As for the performing arts in downtown Norwich, local shop owner Charlie Romano says it seems everyone wants to or already plays guitar. Romano owns and operates Crazy Horse Music which provides the community with a musical outlet for all types of string instruments. At his store, he sells all kinds of string instruments and accessories and also provides lessons. Romano has been in the business for 15 years, and says he has a consistent customer base and also gets a lot of walk-in traffic.

As a musician in the area, Romano says 10 years ago it seemed as though music was better than it is today, with more bands performing for audiences. “People now are playing mostly for their personal enjoyment, a type of hobby player,” he said.

Romano says he likes teaching others to play and offers lessons at only $10 for a half an hour to anyone interested. “There seems to be a lack of music in the area right now, professionally that is,” he said.

Just minutes from the Art Upstairs Gallery, another type of collaborative art gallery is celebrating 10 years in business. Made in Chenango offers the public anything from wood working to photography to paintings and sculpture, all made by artists either in or in close proximity to Chenango County. Artists collaborate and take turns working shifts to keep the store open throughout the week. In return, their art is exhibited for show and sale.

Kathy Coates, a local photographer and exhibitor, says the gallery caters to more traditional art throughout the county, while the Art Upstairs Gallery has more of a modern day flair. “I think art in the area is beginning to be more influential,” said Coates, explaining that she feels more varied art mediums are becoming more apparent as well.

Mixing musical talents with the love of instruments and dance, owners Bob and Teddi Arnell say since 1984 when they opened Arnell’s Music Store, a full service instrument rental and repair shop, they have seen the trends change as well. Besides being a master craftsman when it comes to repairing instruments, Teddi said her husband is a wonderful musician who studied at Julliard.

Offering something different to the community, the Arnells opened a dance club at their Renaissance Building in downtown Norwich, which is organized by volunteers. Their first meeting of the year, held Jan. 11, offered free Latin dance lessons, featuring Salsa and Mambo. Participants gathered to discuss future dances and had time to practice. The Arnells, with their 16-piece band “The Chenangoans,” provided music for ballroom dancing throughout the fall of 2007, continuing the tradition they call a treat for the community.

The next scheduled dance is from 7 to 9 p.m. Feb. 15. Free dance lessons are offered from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Everyone is welcome to join as the band will play a variety of music, including Latin (cha-cha), Ballroom (waltz), and Folk music (polka). A new dance group is forming now and is scheduled to meet every Friday from 7 to 9 p.m., at the Renaissance Building for dance lessons, and dance practice.

“The free format of this club includes fun, building individual dance styles and practicing dance steps to use them at the monthly dance hosted by the Arnells,” said Dance Club coordinator Martha Ryan. “This is the best-kept secret in Chenango County,” she said.

For more information, e-mail Ryan at browercommunications@live.com.

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