Winooski Circle Arts Seeks New Home 

• Matthew Thorsen
• Liza Cowan

With barely three months behind it, the cooperative gallery Winooski Circle Arts — yes, facing the infamous traffic circle — was informed by building owner Hall Keen that it had to move out by January 15. Co-owner Liza Cowan sent a letter to members of the nascent co-op last week giving them the bad news.

But, she said, there is also good news — almost. Cowan is in negotiations for another space “that will be even better than the one we are now in,” and hopes to announce that very soon.

Cowan put a positive spin on the developments in her letter:

When we started with the pop-ups in 2011, none of the commercial spaces were occupied, and it seemed nobody wanted them. When artists move in, they make a neighborhood exciting and desirable, and then others, with more income and cash flow, want to move in.

In the case of the Hall Keen building, this has been a good thing. This year oak45, the new bar, opened its doors, then Salon Salon, the hair salon, moved in, and soon Misery Loves Company will open its bakery. These are all wonderful, local businesses and we are happy that they are here, and wish them all the very best success.

Seven Days wrote — too optimistically, it turned out — about WCA settling in “to stay” in a previous State of the Arts story, and in our year-end follow-ups. But Cowan and fellow owner Jodi Harrington are nothing if not doggedly determined to show and sell art in Winooski. In fact, says Cowan, “We’re actively seeking artist members and are forging ahead with plans to move and building a cooperative market.”

Meantime, the store is open through January 15 and, notes Cowan, “We’re having some amazing sales, including showroom furniture.”

Stay tuned for updates here or on the Seven Days blog Live Culture.

The original print version of this article was headlined "Circling Winooski"