Like so many other industrial buildings in rust belt cities, the Tulip Bottling Company and Gainers Brewery buildings in Johnstown’s historic Cambria City neighborhood had fallen into disuse after the companies that once employed hundreds dried up and closed their doors. But the buildings have been given new life as the blue color neighborhood is transformed into the city’s art and cultural district.
“Throughout the year we offer exhibits, classes, lectures, anything art-related,” said Bottleworks Executive Director Angela Rizzo of the buildings that now also house nine local artists in rented studio space. “Our mission is to provide opportunities for artists and audiences to experience the arts.”
Rizzo told Essential Pittsburgh’s Paul Guggenheimer that the ultimate goal is to team with other development efforts make Johnstown a tourism destination.
“As we are seeing the artists community grow we are also seeing the neighborhood grow… so now we have a lot of cafes and things like that,” Rizzo said.
While the focus on arts might be new in Cambria City Rizzo notes that the arts have been alive and well since the founding of Johnstown through blacksmithing and woodworking.
As the arts scene grows, Bottleworks is getting inquiries from artists as far away as New York City who are looking for a more affordable location with easy access to east coast customers.
Currently in on display in the exhibition space is Sally Stewart and Family Works. Johnstown artist Sally Stewart has been working for decades in a wide variety of mediums including woodworking, watercolors, and pastels. The “family” side of the show comes from the works of about 50 of Stewart’s family members who also dabble in the arts.
There have been a lot of entrepreneurs in the family as well as artists according to Rizzo. “I think there is a tight correlation between the arts and entrepreneurs and that is where I see us (Bottleworks) starting to fit in with what Johnstown is trying to create.”
When Rizzo first came on board as the Bottleworks executive director she was worried that she would not be able to fill the two buildings, but now her biggest concern is finding more space for burgeoning artists. The nonprofit has purchased two empty lots near their main buildings.
“Our long term vision is to really create this ‘arts campus’ and then let that continue to grow through out Cambria City and downtown Johnstown,” Rizzo said. “And I see us tying in and collaborating with other industries to promote tourism.”
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