Antique wooden chairs and oak pews in the Old Chapel Theater

Our restoration began as soon as we acquired the building in October, 2007. To my great surprise, when we removed a partition that was added over fifty years ago, we discovered three more stained glass windows! This adds to the priceless collection of thirty-three 1918 Art Glass Stained Glass Windows in the Art Center. Two of the colored windows were removed when the old Methodist Church moved to their "new" church in 1959. All these unique art glass windows represent a transitional period in stained glass art at the time churches were becoming influenced by the modern "Art Deco" movement in architecture. The Sidney Fine Art Center houses a fine collection of the windows designed to be less religious and less flowery as the representational nineteenth century figurative church and Art Nouveau colored glass works.

Another surprise as we removed another temporary wall. We found a stash of money and gold! No, not really... just kidding! We did find a stair railing that was covered up. We were wanting to add space to one of the workshop rooms by adding an open staircase. With this discovery... we don't have to! It was already designed that way by the original architect.

Recently I was informed by two different historical experts on Methodist church architecture that this building represents the "Akron Design". I will do more research on this information and try to find the name of the original architect. I understand that our center is a unique variation to the Akron design because the parsonage is attached to the church . Most Akron design churches of the period were built with separate parsonages. Whoever designed the place built in some nice features. We were pleased to find out that the acoustic cone-shaped walls, in the old chapel theater, create an sound quality that is incredible! The old designer placed the choir seating directly in front of this speaker-cone shaped wall. The old pipe organ (now gone) was placed nearby. I would have loved to attended the church in the 1920's just to hear what sounds were generated by this arrangement of natural acoustics! I can't wait 'till we have our first performance in the Old Chapel Theater and take advantage of its built-in natural sound system!

The rare curved oak pews in the Old Chapel Theater catch everyone's eye. According to national antique and wood finishing experts, we have a rare collection of quarter-sawn curved white oak pews. This type of wood is rarely found anymore, especially the size and lengths of the planks that are in these pews. Those old white oak forests are gone. We are restoring and protecting these fine examples of American church furniture. We are applying hand-rubbed oil refinishing techniques to preserve the wood so future generations can enjoy their beauty, too!
-Jess

A blanket of snow covers theSidney Fine Arts Center in January and the garage before it becomes the "Pottery Shed"

 

"PHASE THREE" UNDERWAY!

The Wedding Chapel will be ready for our first weddinig in September!

The Performance Hall and Chapel is getting a "new look" as we renovate the meeting hall. New carpets, drapes, refinished wood floors, restored pews and some small renovations to inhance the beauty and functionality of the room. The work is underway, thanks to the generosity and physical help of several Artist and Patron Members.

 

Phase One is the first of five phases of construction and restoration of the Sidney Fine Arts Center. In this phase we are building our Ceramic and Pottery capabilities. With the creation of ceramic courses we are also converting the old parking garage to our new"Pottery Shed". This building will house our kilns. In addition to our existing kilns, we have added the big 16 cubic ft. Baily kiln pictured here. This large capacity programmable kiln will fire to a cone 10, and has the thickest insulation in the industry. The other kilns that will be housed in the pottery shed are; a test ceramic kiln, a glass fusion kiln and a low fire ceramic painting kiln. We are also planing on another kiln for future jewelry casting courses.