Anchoring the culture in the central business district is the newly launched Norwalk Art Space. A former Christian Science Reading building, the space has been carefully redone as a cathedral of natural light and white walls that open the gallery space. But there’s more to the project, named after its founder, Alexandra Davern Korry, who conceived of the project and bequeathed it to Norwalk and sadly did not live to see her vision to launch. But that vision is embedded in the cultural DNA of both the space and the people who carry on the mission of this non-profit cultural center.
Artist residents and fellows have space to create and that sparks the connection to the mission of providing free art classes with real working artists to the area’s high school students. In short, they are in the business of building an arts community, which for some, departed to Bridgeport not so long ago.
The art world has always had an uneasy tension with the funders and patrons of art, who sensibly seek the comforts and riches of the familiar, with the roots of great art embedded in the lived experiences of difficult lives and nonconformity. Which makes the import of Bill Taibe of Westport restaurant foodie fame both understandably and perplexing. Yes, they have a cafe. Because of course community needs places to hang out, and space to do it needs a kitchen. It has a certain Martha Stewart logic to it. And it wouldn’t be a wrong assumption given that the strip of West Ave. that the building occupies is also a construction zone, and boulevard lacking any semblance of pedestrian activity and a collection of inexplicable traffic lights designed for sprawling suburbia. Not to mention the exit and entrance ramps to the Route 7 connector and I-95.
Part of the charm of Norwalk, and the many who attempt to build a cohesive vision, is that the adjacent parts, the underutilized parks, the Norwalk River, and the remnant historic architecture, entice so many into believing that Norwalk has a sense of cultural heritage that will spring forth into an authentic experience worth soaking in. Which is to say, that The Norwalk Art Space itself is a work of art. Its presence provokes a strong reaction, and that is what makes great art stand the test of time.
435 West Ave.
