CPA Letter of Support-Vitek Kruta.docxTo the Honorable CPA Committee of Northampton, MA.:
I would like to voice my support for the restoration of the façade of the building currently occupied and owned by the Michelson Art Gallery. I have worked with the gallery for almost
20 years as both one of their artists and as an art conservator and resident of Northampton. As to many artists in the area, Rich Michelson has offered support to my career as an artist,
hosting several exhibits over the years and selling my work. He was also instrumental and a contributing partner to such projects as the restoration of First Churches in Northampton.
I was the hired restorer for the project and won a Heritage Award from the State of Massachusetts. We restored the original interior stencil paintings and plaster medallions.
For 5 years I was a Commissioner of the Holyoke Historical Commission and for almost 8 years a Co-Founder and President of the Holyoke Preservation Trust. This Trust supported, advocated,
educated and succeeded in establishing the CPA in the City of Holyoke. I am currently fully focusing on the reopening of Gateway City Arts in Holyoke which I co-own and direct with
my partner Lori Divine -Hudson, also a resident of Northampton for several decades.
My background is in restoration of castles and churches in Germany before I moved to the USA and continued my career as professional artist, restorer, teacher and consultant.
Throughout my 40-year career I never met an owner of a historic property who was able to take on self-financing of a complex restoration project. This is complex due to the scale and
expertise needed to preserve the original substance of the building. Mostly, if no support is available, the historic building gets compromised and stripped of its valuable and artistic
character. The result is it becomes a grotesque caricature of what we once called a great cultural heritage and asset of our community. Even though the gallery building is in private
ownership it remains a valuable historic and cultural asset to the Northampton community. It’s cultural and aesthetic landscape will remain even after the ownership changes.
I urge the committee to support this restoration project.
With respect,
Vitek Kruta