Norwalk Art Space Officially Opens To The Public

NORWALK, CT — The Norwalk Art Space officially opened to the public over the weekend following a ribbon cutting ceremony held Friday evening.

The art space originated from the vision of founder Alexandra Davern Korry, a lawyer, educator, civil rights advocate, philanthropist and local arts supporter who died in September. The building, located at 455 West Avenue, is named the ADK House in her honor.

See also: A Cultural Hub: Norwalk Art Space To Open Its Doors This Weekend

Mayor Harry Rilling opened Friday's ceremony by thanking everyone in attendance, as well as the team who worked hard to carry out Kory's vision for the space: a cultural hub showcasing the talents of up-and-coming area artists and providing free arts education for local students.

"I just want to welcome everyone to this beautiful, beautiful space," Rilling said. "Norwalk is so lucky to have this space so that people can come in here and use all their creativity and imagination and create some wonderful works of art."

Rilling noted he was very familiar with what the building looked like prior to the 18-month redevelopment and remodeling, and he never envisioned it would look as beautiful as it does now.

"I think it's absolutely wonderful," Rilling said to Patch. "This is something Norwalk needs. We've always been very fond of the arts, we've always been very supportive of the arts, so thinking that people will come here, use their imagination and their creativity to create beautiful works of art I think is just wonderful."

Duvian Montoya, the art space's artistic and educational director, got choked up as he thanked Kory for her attention to detail in her development of the building.

"It's this building, this vision of hers, that is bringing this crowd," Montoya said, "bringing attention to the arts again, bringing us united around culture, around things that need to be said in our life and in our community. When it comes to the artists of our community, we finally have an outlet to express ourselves. This is a unique space that really is special to the Connecticut artists, and I'm humbled and honored to be a part of this [and] to take this on, because I know how special this is."

Montoya noted the art space will not only help keep creatives in the area, but also help them flourish.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., also stopped by the art space Friday evening and presented Kory's husband, Robin Panovka, with a certificate of special recognition from the U.S. Senate in honor of the art space's first chapter of existence.

"This is the ADK building," Blumenthal said, "and I'm going to be talking about this building and this space, the Norwalk Art Space, for a long time throughout the state of Connecticut, and in fact in Washington D.C., as an example of what people can do when they are determined to give back. There is no limit to the amount of good you can do, as long as you don't care who gets the credit for it."