May (2014)
April (2014)
4/13/2014
Fobbed!
March (2014)
February (2014)
2/13/2014
Head's Day
January (2014)
December (2013)
12/12/2013
Ed Industry
November (2013)
October (2013)
August (2013)
8/19/2013
August Podia
July (2013)
June (2013)
6/9/2013
Reunion 2013
May (2013)
April (2013)
4/6/2013
Bombs Away
March (2013)
February (2013)
January (2013)
1/27/2013
Big Chill
Decentralizing Arts
6/29/2005

Six years ago, a decision was made to build what is now the Wilkins Meeting House to include theater and dance, but not music and other arts. This reinforced a long-established trend to keep arts facilities decentralized. Up until recently, this tendency was born of economic necessity. For almost forty years, Slocumb Hall, which was originally built in 1810 as a livery stable and later was converted into the school's gymnasium, has been home to studio arts.

Increasingly, however, decisions to construct smaller arts facilities scattered across campus have included elective choice, symbolizing the integration of the arts within the curriculum, and within student life. Dance, which came into being with the opening of the Meeting House, is now a performance activity offered in the afternoon (on par with sports.)

Today, the extensive renovation of the stone chapel is underway for future use by Proctor's growing vocal ensembles and steel band.

The architectural charm of the facility will be retained, while a new, genuine slate roof will cover five inches of new insulation.

Tomorrow, construction begins on the new music facility dedicated to bands, instruction and a recording studio. And so the trend continues.

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It is a hot, humid day. Perfect for playing in a sprinkler!
Now home to studio arts and ceramics, Slocumb Hall was the livery stable for the Proctor House Hotel in the 1870s.
Ceramics in Slocumb.
A dark room was added between science labs when Shirley Hall was designed in the late '50s.
A jewelry studio replaced Housekeeping Offices in the boathouse when new business offices were completed in the '90s.
Steel drums, which will move to the first floor of the renovated chapel, have been housed in the barn north of Ives House for twenty-five years.
Weaving resides in space once used as locker rooms when Slocumb was a gymnasium.
The Meeting House dedicated space to a second "black box" theater below the main theater/auditorium.
Workers are rebuilding the chapel's distinctive Tudor-style gable windows in the original style.