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Adams looks ahead to year two

Ready for a new year

OBSERVER Photos by M.J. Stafford The main hall of the Adams during a June 7 “Year Two Kickoff Party.”

The revival of the Adams continues.

Formerly the Adams Art Gallery, the building at the corner of Sixth Street and Central Avenue in Dunkirk was repurposed by William Haskas and Matei Denes. They envision a public space for all sorts of creative pursuits, more than just visual arts, which is why they insist on calling it just the Adams.

They revealed their vision Friday, June 7 at a “Year Two Kickoff Party” in the main hall, which still shows signs of deterioration from its eight-year abandonment.

A display board revealed their overall 2019 fundraising goal of $125,500. They have recieved $38,463 so far. Plans for the money include a payment on a new roof and infrastructure upgrades. Nearby boards showed photos of some of the destruction inside the building before cleanup began last year.

Another board asked, “What would you like to happen at the Adams”? Partygoers tacked notes to the board in response. Suggestions included Hispanic music, art and fashion programs, along with musical jam sessions and yoga classes.

People who attended the party could put their ideas for the Adams on a board.

There was also information about what is scheduled this summer: things such as art and architecture exhibitions, a “Circus Weekend” featuring acrobatics classes, a series of ‘Learn How” events to teach things like woodworking and fly fishing and later this month, an art show by Dunkirk High School seniors.

Finally, there were invitations to become an “Inaugural Member” of the Adams for a $20 fee.

Halfway through the gathering, Haskas and Denes talked to everyone about the building they were there to see.

“When we came up here and we saw this space and we understood the opportunity in front of us, the opportunity to not only define the space, change the space, work on the space as architects, but also to then take ownership of that space and what happens in that space, it was a really special opportunity that I think is rare for architects to have,” Denes said.

“The way that this space sort of functions in the community, and the way that I’ve been able to personally engage with it… and with all the people that have come through here have made this project something that I will always hold dear,” he added.

The board of the Adams speaks at a June 7 gathering inside the Dunkirk building. From left: William Haskas (president), Alberto Rey, Alexander Guzman (secretary), Matei Denes (treasurer/executive director) and Michael Civiletto.

Haskas and Denes also introduced the rest of their Board of Directors. Alex Guzman, an architectural designer who has worked on the renovations from the beginning, will be secretary. SUNY Fredonia art professor Alberto Rey and Dunkirk councilman Michael Civiletto round out the board.

“A lot of the photographs you see in the panels of all the debris and the water damage, Alex personally carried all of that stuff out into the Dumpster,” Haskas said. “He is the backbone of this whole physical operation.”

“I’ve been connected to this space for over 30 years,” Rey said. “This space has fostered community connections to professional activities that I think are important.”

Acknowledging the building had fallen into disuse, he turned to Denes and Haskas and drew laughter by saying, “When these guys were starting to talk about the Adams, I was like, ‘Hmm, have they seen the Adams? All right, I’ll give them a couple of minutes.’

“Man, they have been working like dogs to clean this up and the vision that they have is really exciting,” Rey added.

Civiletto was introduced by Haskas as “a guy you can call at 7 in the morning or 7 at night or email and say, ‘Hey, we need something that you just can’t get in Dunkirk or Fredonia’ and he finds a way to make it happen for us. A guy who every time we have an issue with the building … comes by and does what he can to make a repair and a patch.”

The Fourth Ward councilman said he recalled art and theater classes as a child in the building. “I grew up here,” he said. “A lot of us did. So, when I came back here in 2012 and saw what it was, it was really upsetting.”

Civiletto added that the issue of the Adams inspired him to become a councilman.

“I’m going to do everything I can to help these guys,” he said. “I hope that we can get a big community behind us that feels as emotional about this place as I do.”

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