Before Makeover, Artists Preserve Winchester Legacy

Before transforming a 19th and 20th century Winchester rifle factory into luxury apartments, ForestCity developers hit the pause button, seeking a way to preserve and honor the building’s history and generations of Winchester workers.

The result of that effort was on display at the Art Architecture History Industry, Unite for a Night exhibit held at Reynolds Fine Art gallery in Ninth Square last week. The one-night exhibit, a powerful union of form and image, brought together the figurative sculpture of New Haven area artist Susan Clinard and the monumental, pre-renovation images of Boston-based photographer Ramsey Bakhoum.

Bakhoum trained his lens on the deteriorated but structurally sound building at 275 Winchester Ave. that Forest City is currently turning into apartments at the crossroads of Dixwell and Newhallville. He recorded its frayed, peeling elements and sagging floorboards, while Clinard used actual portions of the building’s floorboards, period artifacts, and structural beams to create evocative figurative sculptures that pay homage to the men and women whose work ethic, pride in craft, and skilled hands helped propel the industrial revolution.

Abe Naparstek, senior vice-president for ForestCity’s East Coast Development, said that exhibition pieces and many others that tell the Winchester story, will take their place in many of the common areas at Winchester Lofts, a luxury apartment community now in is first phase with 158 units, with 200 more planned for a second phase of development.

Among those at the well attended opening was New Haven historian Robert S. Greenberg, who is familiar with the buildings at the Winchester complex. He shared part of his comprehensive collection of New Haven artifacts and memorabilia for this report. Standing before ​“Castles made of Sand: Hendrix was here,” one of Bakhoum’s photos, Greenberg pointed out a particular shade of red used in areas of the vacant building. ​“That’s ​‘Winchester Red,’” the specific color used in all the company’s brand identification.

Greenberg underscored the importance of the preservation of the Winchester complex: ​“The magnitude of the buildings is that they are bigger than New Haven — these are the buildings that manufactured the guns that won the west-they contained the humanity that helped build our society and are as important as any museum.”

The task of conveying that importance was left in the capable hands of artist Susan Clinard who has been incorporating vintage factory forms and materials in her work for some time, and Ramsey Bakhoum, who is trained in architecture and has worked with ForestCity on other projects.

Clinard said that among all her commissioned works, making the Winchester Lofts series was by far the best: ​“It is truly my voice work and it tells the story of the people of New Haven and our long history.” Clinard acknowledged Bill Brown, director of the Eli Whitey Museum for his contribution of industrial artifacts incorporated into the sculptures, and Eli Whitney Museum shop manager Mike Dunn, for his assistance throughout the project.

Whether carved freestanding forms …

… or Clinard’s, circular assemblages that combine found forms with her highly detailed modeling and carving, the actual use of Winchester building elements help catalyze the sculptures’ metaphorical meaning. Factory workers were the foundation of family, community, and nation — each work station, each bench, a place of great dignity and pride.

As a graphic designer, Bakhoum’s Winchester photographs are large-format images in which presentation, the framing and matting, play a significant role. Bakhoum said the large images give the viewer a sense of scale — of being within the space. ​“My signature presentation style for the framed pieces: the prints were proportioned to be reminiscent of the old medium-format prints, where traditionally one margin was much narrower than the other. This detail, while its roots are retrospective, have a modern aesthetic when accompanied by the frame.”

As exhibit openings go, this one-night viewing opportunity was a first-class affair, with catering by Meat & Co.,in the comfortable space of Reynolds Fine Art gallery. The evening brimmed with excitement by exhibit sponsors in celebration of their collaboration with two artists who have done great justice to the preservation and spirit of the Winchester legacy. It is an exhibit that deserves more viewing opportunities by the general public.