From ceramics to hip-hop, dedication and enthusiasm trump economic adversity in Springfield
“I’m glad they’re here, kicking the arts in the butt,” smiles Betsy Dollar, executive director of the Springfield Art Association. She is referring to the organizers and participants of Third Thursday, the upstart local collective whose calling card is a floating, monthly exhibition featuring volunteer artists [see “The Third Thursday artists,” by Scott Faingold, July 28, at illinoistimes.com]. “Also, I think the most exciting thing happening in the visual arts is The Pharmacy group and the way they’re open to working with other groups and supporting the arts across the board in town.”
This kind of cross-pollinating encouragement is typical of the tone among the various arts groups in Springfield as 2011 draws to a close. From the most established, state-funded institutions to fledgling, shoestring operations, the attitude in town is one of generosity and support, seemingly free of any overweening sense of rancor or competition.
“We’re very excited,” says Andrew Woolbright, co-founder of the aforementioned Pharmacy, which had its first juried gallery show in November to overwhelmingly positive response. “We’ve been shown a lot of love very early on, quicker than I’d expect. My hope is that The Pharmacy can be a group that is talented but also humble and encouraging, whether to artists, musicians, writers or filmmakers. We really are trying to build up everyone around us and work toward solutions that move the entire community forward. The big thing for 2012 is going to be more collaboration between different venues.”
All of this mutual support and positivity is admittedly taking place against the backdrop of an extremely difficult economic landscape, personified in poignant fashion by the current plight of the Hoogland Center for the Arts. The downtown complex is arguably the center of artistic activity in the region, acting as home base as well as performance and rehearsal space for numerous art and theater organizations, including the Springfield Theatre Center and the Sangamon Valley Youth Symphony. Faced with a debilitating $2.5 million mortgage, the Hoogland is in the midst of an intensive cam paign to raise $1.2 million as part of a deal with a still-undisclosed donor who will then provide the remaining $1.3 million needed to close out the mortgage. While the figures are constantly changing, it was revealed last Thursday that the drive was still a daunting $700,000 away from its target.
None of which seems to have taken the spring out of Hoogland program director (and WICS-TV chief meteorologist) Gus Gordon’s step. “I think this has been an amazingly successful year,” he beams. “We’ve accomplished so many things, not only at the Hoogland Center for the Arts but in Springfield in general. There are so many opportunities for performers, so many opportunities for audience members, so many opportunities for kids to grow and to learn and to participate, that we’re really blessed in this town. We had some really wonderful shows, and it wasn’t all in one category. We had jazz singers from Chicago, we had comedy from the Second City troupe, we built relationships with other organizations, like the Muni and the Springfield Theatre Center and the Little Theater on the Square, so in that respect it has been a very successful year.
“Looking ahead to 2012,” Gordon continues, “we’ve got most of our season planned already, and there are a lot of great things that’ll be happening. One of the first things, that I’m thrilled about, is that I’ll be directing a production of Ain’t Misbehavin’, a musical celebration of the music of Fats Waller. And we’ve got Debbie Ross, who is just a local superstar in the blues community who’ll be in that, and four other great local performers. That’s one of the first events and I think that’s going to set up a really wonderful year for not just theater but orchestral music and symphonic music and the ballet company and for painters and sculptors. We just have a lot of stuff going on in this town.”
Springfield Theatre Center Secretary Jim Leach has also noticed positive trends in his organization’s recent shows at the Hoogland. “I think that we have perceived an increase in attendance, an increase in interest and maybe that’s a sign that economically things areimproving. It certainly felt to us like there’s just more response,” he recounts. “It does feel like we turned maybe just a psychological corner, but that people are more willing to come out, more interested in taking part, in buying tickets, in actively participating in the arts, which is just a welcome, good sign and I think it’s beneficial for everyone.” Leach also echoes Gordon’s observations about the variety of successful productions mounted in 2011.
