New Location

Well- We still haven't heard a thing from the town about our craft venture into the old school.  But- as things sometimes happen we've had an offer which could see us in a new location come March.  I'm very excited about this.  The location will still be in Uxbridge.  We really want to be a community based craft center, it is very unfortunate that we don't have the support of town hall.  I think they are missing out on a wonderful experience.  The old Blanchard building would be revitalized and full of artistic life and energy, not an eye soar as it is now.  I don't want to jinx us until everything is finalized.  Please send us an email to be added to our contact list and to let us know what type of workshops you'd like to see, ceramics, woodworking, jewelry, etc
Thanks for checking in and stay posted
Have a safe and happy holiday
Regards
Steve Butler

Delay, Delays

The image below is of  a sign posted in the front yard of One Hartford Ave East, what use to be the Blanchard Early Childhood Education Center. This is what we responded to nearly two years ago.  We have submitted two proposals about our plans to occupy the building and develop a community craft center.  Two weeks ago we had a definitive date and time as to when we would meet the board of selectman and present our plans and proposal.  Well- again they have been cancelled.  The chairman of the board contacted me and told me that it is the responsibility of the new town manager.  I've contacted him about my desire to meet with him and any one else on the board to discuss our vision, but as of yet there has been no return message.  So- we sit and wait again.  This building has been empty for over eight years, yes there are some concerns and issues to be dealt with.  We are willing to address these concerns and issues.  This building would cost the town a fortune to demolish.  That money could be turned back into the facility for repairs and we could have a vibrant craft center catering to the needs and wants of the Uxbridge community.  This is getting very, very frustrating.  It seems like nobody at town hall wants to be responsible for making a decision on this building.  Please keep checking in and thank you always for your support.  If we get a confirmation meeting date I'll post it and send out an email.

Regards

Steve

 

Selectman and Town Meeting

WELL-
We finally have a date confirmed to present our proposal to the town and the board of Selectman.
Liesl and I will be presenting our proposal on Monday September 26th at the Uxbridge town hall.  All meetings can be attended by and open to the public.  If you would like to show your support for a community craft school in your area then please attend this meeting at 7pm and let the Selectman know that you are in favor of a craft school at the old Blanchard Early Childhood Center at One Hartford Ave East.

Below is a copy of the original propoasl we sent the Selectman about our plans for the building.
Thank you again
Regards
Steve Butler
Liesl Carlson
The making of objects is inherent to us all.
It is the mission of The Blackstone Valley School of Crafts
To provide the finest craft education, to inspire the creative spirit, and to celebrate the hand made.
We want to bring craft back to the community and the community back to craft.
WelcomePlease except this letter as an application to occupy the premises at One Hartford Ave East, the former Blanchard Early Childhood Education Center. This beautiful, historic building is the perfect compliment to our vision. This building was gifted to the town of Uxbridge and to remain an educational institute and we are determined to keep this vision alive. We would like to occupy part or whole of the building, creating a craft center like no other in the area that embraces the community inside and out. Allow us to introduce ourselves. Steve Butler and Liesl Carlson are two professional craftspeople, artist and educators. We believe that preserving craft is preserving something that is inherent to us all. We all love to make things. We love what craft has done for our lives and we want too share our passion with you. We want too make sure that craft remains a part of our community. So – we invite you to the beginning of our next creation. " The Blackstone Valley School of Crafts"
The Blackstone Valley School of Crafts
Steve Butler and Liesl Carlson of Uxbridge established The Blackstone Valley School of Crafts in March 2010. Still in it’s formative stages; the school is temporarily located in South Grafton, MA.
The idea grew out of a chance meeting between strangers- Liesl, my son Quinn and I moved back to Massachusetts after my position as director of the wood studio at Peters Valley Craft Center in Layton, NJ was eliminated because of budget constraints. Liesl and I established our studios on Rte 16 and were introducing our selves around town. We stopped at Eagle Eye Antiques in Uxbridge, where we met owner Jeff Hollis who is a furniture refinisher, restorer and woodworker. Jeff suggested we meet Richard Chiros who had a fully equipped studio in South Grafton we might be able to use temporarily. Shortly after this meeting Liesl and I formed The Blackstone Valley School of Crafts.
The idea seemed so far-fetched in these hard times but why not? I’ve seen so may school programs close…But there is something saying that this is going to work and that this is the right area to be in. We hosted two demonstrations so far and each has been very successful garnering a lot of community support, We have a long list of people wanting to sign up for classes. I have plenty of experience in building craft programs from scratch. I’m a former teacher with the Marshfield public schools; I was the department head of the wood studio at The Worcester Center for Crafts prior to my post at Peters Valley Craft Center. While at Peters Valley I built the woodworking program ad introduced wood turning to the center. I later established a local chapter of the American Association of Woodturners. We have the support of the Central New England Woodturners. Liesl is a graduate of a craft program and teaches as well. She is a jeweler and metal smith. We are passionate about what we do. It is important for us to pass this on. Humans are makers. When people make things they take ownership. It becomes part of you. People feel better when they make things. Our mission statement states that "we want to bring craft back to the community and the community back to craft". We feel strongly about this. We envision a craft school that is a vibrant part of the community that is accessible to all no matter what income bracket one might be in. We want to be a part of and embraced by the community offering daytime and evening adult –Ed classes. When you care about and are confident in something it is infectious. We want to bring this infectious, positive energy to the community.
We are proud members of The Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce. Our business account is with the local branch of Unibank. I am an active member of Uxbridge Community Access Television. I produce and host a show called " The Garage". This is a show about craft and the making of objects. We have looked at and toured the facilities at One Hartford Ave East in Uxbridge. This is the former Blanchard Early Childhood Education Center. This is a beautiful historic building that has been vacant for eight years. This building is exactly what we envisioned for a local community craft school. We would love to bring back the playground and open it up to the community also providing an outdoor area for students to sit and have and lunch amongst a sculpture garden. We would also like to create an allotment garden for the community. The doors will be open to the community. This venture will create employment for local craftspeople that will be able to subsidize their income by teaching adult – Ed classes as well as providing a rich creative environment for the community.
Please help us resurrect and bring life back to this beautiful historic building and help us bring craft back to the community. Any consideration for us to bring our vision to the Uxbridge community and to occupy this building is greatly appreciated. I would love to talk with you further about our venture at your convenience.

Regards
Steve Butler
Liesl Carlson
(508) 372-9169
(413) 717-5062
PO Box 62
North Uxbridge, MA 01538
www.blackstonevalleyschoolofcraft@gmail.com
　
　

Update

For more than six months Liesl and I have been back and forth with the town of Uxbridge about this beautiful old school building. Liesl and I are hoping to lease the building from the town and finally have a permanent home for our school

 The Blackstone Valley School of Crafts"  A month ago the town managers office called and asked us to re-submit our proposal.  We did and last week we got a call from the chairman of the board of selectman.  They are interested in our proposal and in September we have to give a presentation to the entire board of selectman. The building was originally gifted to the town and is to remain an educational institution.  We want to create a vibrant craft center that embraces the community.  Hopefully we'll get the building and bring new life to it through the making of objects.  I'll keep you posted.  Please visit http://www.theblackstonevalleyschoolofcrafts.blogspot.com/ for updates.  Liesl and I received a call from Jeannie Hebert of The Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce and from Bruce Larsen form The Small Business Development Association ( SBDA).  They are very interested in our school venture and are working with us to achieve our goal.  Apparently there are grants  and funding available for such initiatives as ours.  They met last week with the State on our behalf.  We should hear back from them soon.  I'll keep you posted.  So - as usual we have a lot of irons in the fire.

I'm not a citizen of this country so I can't vote, if I could I'm not sure which polotical party I would vote for especially in these tough times.  I have never endorsed a polotical candidate before and always try to hear both sides of an argument and give everyone  a chance.  This being said I must give praise and a huge thank you to a young State Representative.  Ryann Fattman is a State Representative, representing Sutton and parts of Uxbridge, MA.  When we originally didn't hear back from the town about our proposal I contacted a few offices.  Ryan's office was the only one to call us back and do something.  Ryan's office contacted the town managers office.  We heard back that same day.  Last Thursday evening I was invited to go to an event that Ryan was hosting.  Ryan meets hundreds of people each week but he came over, shook my hand and asked about the school.  He then proceeded to introduce me to Senator Scott Brown and Charlie Baker,

who ran for congressman.  I'm very impressed with this young politician.

 

Still Waiting

Yesterday we found out that we'll have to wait another two weeks before the town of Uxbridge makes a decision about the school occupying the old building.  I really want to get this venture under way and start offering craft classes to the community.  We are excited about becoming members of the local community.
Oh well- we'll just have to wait.  Thank you to those who follow our blog, we appreciate your loyalty and hope we can meet you all at the school's first open house.  Keep your fingers crossed for us'

Back yard playground and sculpture garden

This is the view from the second floor.  The back yard has a playground and a small sculpture garden.  If we get the building we will refurbish the playground and open it up to the community.

Third Floor

This is the top of the stairway on the third floor.  There is only one room on the third floor, a wonderful room with a stage, great for meetings,events or even a gallery.

Second Floor

These are more pictures of the space on the second floor.  All rooms have lots of natural light and all have chalk boards, awesome.

More views inside Hartford Ave School

These rooms are huge, they have lots of windows and all have tin ceilings. These room are upstairs on the second floor. There are also a few smaller rooms which will make great administrative offices.  Keep your fingers crossed that we can work out a deal with the town

Inside 1 Hartford Ave East

Today Liesl and I had a look inside the old Hartford Ave School.  W are considering leasing it from the town of Uxbridge for the future site of the craft school.  The school needs some TLC but it has great bones. There was fantastic woodwork and tin ceilings all over.  The school has three floors and a basement.  The third

 floor was the auditorium and has a great stage.

 

1 Hartford Ave East/The Blackstone Valley School of Crafts

This is the old elementary school on Hartford Ave East in Uxbridge, MA.W e are currently talking with the town about a lease to make this the permanent home of The Blackstone Valley School of Crafts.  If everything works out well we will refurbish the playground in the back, opening it up to the neighborhood and creating an alotment garden for the public  We want to create an energetic, vibrant craft center catering to the needs of the community.  Wish us luck'  Please keep watching the blog to see how things work out.  If you are in favor of our plan and would like to support our cause please call the town magaer of Uxbridge, MA and tell him you would like to see our venture in the neighborhood.  The Blackstone Valley School of Crafts relies on generous and kind donations of others for support   All donations to the school are tax deductible.  The Blackstone Valley School of Craft is always looking for donations of new, old, and used equipment and books.  We want to create a lending library specializing in the crafts.  This library will be open to the general

public.