March 2024

The sun is shining brightly at the start of the 2024 season for the Thousand Islands Arts Center ~ Home of the Handweaving Museum (TIAC). We’re absolutely thrilled to share what’s in store this year, including an exciting array of events, six exquisite exhibitions (one of which comes to us from Tasmania, Australia), and a wide selection of fun and educational art classes taught by renowned instructors. Our eclectic resale shop, Finders Keepers, will be taking a break from its traditional format this summer but will instead be filled with three estate sale extravaganzas! This year has been off to a tremendous start. We’ve had various pop-up events, including the popular Ceramics and Cocktails, which is co-hosted by Di Prinzio’s. The first one was quickly sold out!

Of the six exhibitions planned for this year, our spotlight shines first on the middle and high school students of the Thousand Islands Central School. Their work will be on display from February 28 to April 12, with a reception on Wednesday, Apr. 3, from 6:30-8 pm. Next comes Better Together: Woven Expressions from the Syracuse Weavers Guild, which will demonstrate how participating in a guild inspires, motivates, and supports its members to excel. In June, artist Becky Harblin will present her work in To Earthward, an exhibition of pastels inspired by a poem by Robert Frost. This will be shown alongside Elizabeth Grater: A Painting Legacy, showcasing some of the artist’s prolific and beautiful body of work. TIAC is excited to bring together the impressionistic work of the late Larry Tack, grandfather of local resident Elaine Tack, with that of Tasmanian landscape artist Nathaniel Hiller in Changes In Latitudes, opening on July 17. And our final exhibition will be the popular annual Along the River’s Edge, a juried show featuring the works of regional artists working in all mediums.

TIAC’s biggest event, the 1000 Islands Art & Craft & Antique Festival, returns in August with more than 70 vendors offering an array of handcrafted goods, antiques, and valuable collectibles. This will be followed by the 29th Annual Weaving History Conference, to be held virtually in October, and will include an impressive roster of academic presentations and unbeWEAVEable findings. An exclusive fundraiser will take place this year on Comfort Island highlighting the metal work of local artist Will Salisbury alongside pieces from California artists. Finally, the year will close in December with the return of the Elves’ Fair, a family-friendly holiday event. It will be the place to be for vendors, activities, entertainment, and holiday cheer! We have so much in store for 2024 and hope that you will join us by attending an event, registering for a class, visiting one of our exhibits, becoming a vendor, or volunteering at the Arts Center. No matter how you choose to find your home here, we look forward to welcoming you any time! For more information on exhibitions, classes and events, please visit us online at TIArtsCenter.org, stop by our center at 314 John Street in Clayton, or call 315.686.4123.

NEW BUILDING ON JAMES STREET
The Thousand Islands Arts Center (TIAC) was awarded a New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA grant in May to support the building of a new arts center and museum. In addition to the NYSCA grant, TIAC was fortunate to have the grant matched by a very generous anonymous supporter. Anyone who has taken a class, attended an event, or participated in an exhibition at TIAC has witnessed firsthand that we’ve outgrown our special, yet too small and aging, building at 314 John Street. While many share a great affection for the 1890s house and “Home of the Handweaving Museum,” it no longer supports our mission, collections, and ever-expanding programming as it is utilized today. Several possibilities are brewing for the repurposing of this building, including an artist-in-residence program and an expanded Finders Keepers outlet, which has grown to be a popular Clayton destination for locals, summer residents, and tourists alike. The new museum will be built at 321 James Street, the current home of Finders Keepers, which will be razed this summer. Schematic designs, which are nearing completion, include a three-story (plus basement), 13,000+ square foot structure with multiple galleries, one of which will have a permanent rotating textile exhibition displayed; three classrooms, one exclusively for our children’s programming; a gift shop, library, weaving studio, archives, and administrative space. A steering committee composed of dedicated trustees and supporters was formed in June and continues to meet weekly as it carefully plans and reviews all aspects of the project, keeping functionality, sustainability, maintenance, and aesthetics top of mind. TIAC has engaged Taylored Architecture, PLLC of Clayton for design services, and Black Horse Construction Group of Watertown, a woman and veteran-owned enterprise, for building. Groundbreaking is anticipated for this summer with completion by fall 2025.

Public information sessions will be offered this spring, and social media updates will be posted regularly – so check often for more information. TIAC is thrilled to add to an already vibrant downtown Clayton and contribute to growing and enriching the cultural experience in the North Country. The addition of this museum is transformational for TIAC and the entire Thousand Islands region!

HISTORY
The mission of Thousand Islands Arts Center ~ Home of the Handweaving Museum (TIAC) is to advance art, craft and our unique handwoven textile collection through education and exhibition. Our vision as a non-profit educational institution is to enrich lives through art and craft experiences. TIAC began as the Thousand Islands Craft School founded in Clayton in 1966, and in its first year had a mere 44 students. It now serves over 600 students annually and offers a wide variety of classes in all mediums. TIAC is the only museum dedicated to American handweaving in the United States. The Arts Center has established and maintains a year-round arts curriculum, a permanent textile collection and library, and two dedicated studios for weaving and pottery. TIAC also sponsors additional educational programs, an annual textile conference, and a minimum of five yearly exhibitions for the public. TIAC is committed to developing awareness, fostering skills, and building appreciation for the arts.