Recap: Emphasis on the arts, Yazzy's at www.williamverdult.com

One of Greenfield's oldest landmarks will house art studios and galleries, adding yet another site to a growing number of arts- and culture-related destinations in the downtown area.

The former Masonic Building, constructed in 1895, will become the Creative Arts Center of Greenfield. Owners Bob and Beverly Hunt are renovating the building, located at the northwest corner of Main and State streets.

Their work on the 112-year-old structure continues a historic preservation trend in Greenfield that gained momentum with 2005-06 restoration of the former Village Theater.

The theater is now known as the H.J. Ricks Centre for the Arts and serves as a venue for live musical and dramatic productions, as well as occasional art displays.

"Downtown renewal," Bob Hunt said, "is really overdue for Greenfield. It's exciting."

At the Hunts' property, a group of three artists is leasing part of the space with plans to open the CrazyLake Art House by year's end.

The art center will contain a large first-floor gallery and second-floor studios. The Hunts already held an open house during the Riley Festival Oct. 4-7 but closed again so renovations could be completed.

The atmosphere at CrazyLake will be less formal than at other art galleries, said Cathleen Huffman, one of the three artists who will be operating the gallery.

"That's one of the reasons we named it CrazyLake," Huffman said. "We want to make it more comfortable, more inviting. Bring a magazine, look at artwork, make your own artwork, bring your children -- that kind of thing."

The other two artists operating CrazyLake are Sandie Dapoz and Stan Crider, who is president of the Hancock County Arts and Culture Council.

Artists from the area already are expressing interest in being involved, said Bob Hunt. Artists already have given oral commitments to rent eight of the building's 14 studio spaces, he said.

The spaces rent for $150 to $350 per month, Hunt said.

"We're a for-profit (business)," Hunt said. "We're interested in having a viable business in there that can cover all the expenses. But we're excited because we believe it's something that's real positive for the downtown revitalization of Greenfield, as well."

Huffman specializes in painting local scenes, especially historic architecture. In addition to art, she also works in historic preservation of buildings. But Huffman wants CrazyLake to showcase all varieties of art.

"Ceramics, quilting, woodworking, painting -- we want to celebrate all the local art," she said.

Several other art-related businesses have opened on Main Street in Greenfield in recent weeks, including Rock Paper Scissors Art Center, a make-your-own-pottery business that also features a coffee shop. That business, owned by Jay and Kimberlee Hine, is located in the former Pickett's Hardware building at 10 W. Main St.

Bryan Martinez, one of the artists whose work will be displayed at CrazyLake, said he is impressed by the "art movement" occurring in Greenfield.

"Things have really started happening," said Martinez, 60.

Martinez retired in March as U.S. postmaster for the town of Maxwell. Since being able to devote more time to art, his sales of oil and pastel paintings have picked up, he said.

"If you ever get paid for doing something you love, it's like getting paid for a hobby," he said.