Audrey Niffenegger wasn’t paying a lot consideration when she discovered her group, Artists E-book Home, had been chosen to take over the well-known Harley Clarke mansion at 2603 Sheridan Rd.
She mentioned she was listening “with half an ear” to the Zoom Metropolis Council assembly on March 21, 2021, when town introduced its determination.
“After I realized that they had chosen us, I assumed, ‘What? Nice!’”
Since then, Niffenegger mentioned, the group has made “wonderful progress” placing collectively a strong board, working with award-winning architect John Eifler and launching engaging and thrilling on-line campaigns.
The undertaking features a full spectrum of e book arts – “writing, studying, printing, bookbinding, papermaking, typography, calligraphy, poetry, fiction, memoir, artist’s books, comics, zines, publishing, conservation, historical past and extra,” in line with ABH’s official proposal.
Metropolis Council member Eleanor Revelle, whose seventh ward contains the mansion, mentioned she is worked up in regards to the undertaking.
“I believe will probably be an excellent addition to town,” she mentioned. “The Artists E-book Home program has broad attraction, and folks love the constructing.”
However, Niffenegger acknowledged, it’s been a problem to boost funds. For one factor, the pandemic has made fundraising get-togethers imprudent.
“It’s an fascinating time to attempt to elevate cash,” mentioned the best-selling writer of The Time Traveler’s Spouse, Her Fearful Symmetry, The Three Incestuous Sisters in addition to a e book of her brief tales illustrated by her husband, Eddie Campbell; plus 5 books she wrote and illustrated and one catalogue of her art work for a profession retrospective.
“Arts teams are struggling. Social justice, well being and meals insecurity are the highest priorities. We’ve been struggling to ask and get cash. Nonetheless, we’re persevering,” she mentioned.
Niffenegger estimated the price to renovate the constructing, together with set up an elevator, make the numerous essential upkeep repairs and launch lessons, at $10 million. To this point, the not-for-profit has raised $400,000. “Laughably small,” she mentioned with solely the hint of a smile.
“Now we have no paid workers,” she added. “I’m a visible artist with no expertise in cultivating donors.” To rectify the state of affairs, the board has made it a prime precedence to rent an govt director with expertise in fundraising.
Within the meantime, the E-book Home plans to carry a e book sale on the mansion from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17. Over the last hour there will probably be a “tote bag sale” at which donations of $25 will allow individuals to stuff their baggage with books.
Along with elevating cash, the e book sale is supposed to remind people who the group is busy shifting forward. “It’s necessary to let the group know the mansion is occupied and that we have now massive plans,” Niffenegger mentioned.
These plans embrace “…a spot for lessons, a library, a e book store, studios, a restaurant: we want a spot to collect, to satisfy, to share concepts (and low),” in line with the proposal. “We plan to supply non-credit, group schooling to adults, youth, and youngsters. There will probably be internships and scholarships, to construct group. We’re excited to advertise the work of native authors and artists, and to turn into a spot the place readers can uncover books.”
The Evanston native, who graduated from Evanston Township Excessive College in 1981, had spent a whole bunch of hours throughout her highschool years taking printmaking and pictures lessons on the mansion, then the house of the Evanston Artwork Heart.
After 4 years on the College of the Artwork Institute, the place she obtained her bachelor’s diploma in high-quality arts, she returned to Harley Clarke and from 1987 to 2002 taught print-making, pictures and drawing.
“It was so spectacular, I simply beloved it,” she recalled, notably the interplay between artists of each self-discipline in addition to the particular occasions – the openings and the Christmas gala everybody attended. “It made the constructing magical.”
The historic English tudor constructing has a wealthy historical past. It was in-built 1927 for the Clarke household by Boston architect Richard Powers. Clarke ran a profitable utility firm and was an early pioneer in academic movies.
Famed panorama architect Jens Jensen designed the gardens. In 1949 the home was bought by Sigma Chi Fraternity for its nationwide headquarters. In 1963 town bought the mansion and grounds, together with the seashore, and leased it to the Evanston Artwork Heart, which ran it from 1965 till 2015.
Lots of Niffenegger’s later tasks concerned collaboration with different artists, such because the ballet primarily based on her e book Raven Lady with composer Gabriel Yared and choreographer Wayne McGregor for the Royal Ballet of London.
Among the identical alternatives to collaborate with different artists in addition to directors and funding organizations, appeared interesting in regards to the Artists E-book Home.
‘The Harley Clarke home ‘is gorgeous, unoccupied, and its future has been a worrisome puzzle. Now we have a imaginative and prescient for it to turn into a full of life, heat, and fascinating place as soon as once more, as a house for our Artists E-book Home,” the proposal mentioned.
To which Niffenegger added:
“It is a distinctive, lovely place – each time I open the entrance door, I keep in mind how nice it feels to be right here, and I think about how fantastic will probably be after we are open and everybody may be right here collectively. All we have now to do is elevate the requisite sums, and we will create a bookish paradise.”
Halloween occasions
Final yr, there was an internet Halloween fundraiser known as A Home Haunted by which numerous artists offered work and drawings to show on the mansion’s street-facing home windows.
This yr’s A Home Haunted takes the idea a step additional with pop-up retailers and self-guided excursions on the mansion from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays in October. Individuals can come any time throughout these hours.
Excursions may be arrange between 10 a.m. and midday on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in October. To order a tour spot go to www.artistsbookhouse.org. beginning Sept. 24.
Excursions in different time slots may be reserved by contacting data@aristsbookhouse.org. additionally beginning Sept. 24.
Niffenegger wasn’t completely stunned the group’s submission – considered one of 4 – was chosen. “We had a terrific architect in John Eifler plus an excellent panorama architect in Nick Patera. And I knew the constructing from prime to backside, and knew what I wished to realize in each room and area,” she mentioned.