Basilica Hudson

Coordinates: 42°15′22″N 73°47′46″W / 42.256°N 73.796°W / 42.256; -73.796

Basilica Hudson

Exterior of Basilica Hudson (2012)
Location 10 S Front St, Hudson, NY 12534
Website
http://www.basilicahudson.com/

Basilica Hudson is an arts and performance venue in Hudson, New York, USA. It was established in 2010 out of a 19th-century factory located near the city's "South Bay" riverfront along the Hudson River. Its creative directors in 2013 are musician Melissa Auf der Maur and independent filmmaker Tony Stone.

History of the site

The building that currently houses Basilica Hudson was originally built in the 1880s as a foundry that produced railroad car wheels.[1][2] Later, it was converted into a glue factory that closed in the 1980s.[1][3] In 1999, the site was slated for inclusion in a redevelopment proposal by the Americlean corporation to build a processing facility for the dry cleaning solvent perchloroethylene. The successful campaign to defeat this proposal was led by the newly formed Friends of Hudson environmental organization.[4] After the defeat of the Americlean proposal, the property was acquired by a Florida developer who sought unsuccessfully to establish an arts center.[5] In 2001, developers and civic activists Patrick Doyle and Catherine Dodge Smith acquired the property and opened it as a community arts center under the name Basilica Industria.[6] The venue was the site of a 2003 Patti Smith concert benefiting the Friends of Hudson campaign to stop development of a 1,800-acre cement plant in neighboring town of Greenport.[7][8] By 2008, musician Melissa Auf der Maur and filmmaker Tony Stone, then newcomers to Hudson, began curating events, filming, and holding band practice in the space.[1]

In 2010, Doyle and Smith sold the property to Auf der Maur, Stone, and his parents, artists Bill Stone and Nancy Stone. They renamed the property 'Basilica Hudson' and repurposed it as an arts and performance venue.[6] Basilica Hudson launched its music and arts programming in the summer of 2012.[9] In 2012, the Albany, NY-based publication Metroland named Basilica Hudson the "best new venue" in the Capital Region.[10]

Operation of venue

Basilica Hudson is an 18,000 sq. ft. space with a maximum capacity for 1,200 people.[3] To date, the venue has no heating or air conditioning. Consequently, Basilica Hudson schedules its programming between spring and fall.[11] Basilica Hudson is the setting for the annual Basilica Music Festival, a.k.a. Basilica Soundscape.[12]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Frere-Jones, Sasha. "Take Them to Church". New Yorker. Conde Nast. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  2. ↑ Aaron, Peter. "BasilicaSoundScape Festival". Chronogram. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  3. 1 2 Ugwu, Reggie. "Basilica Soundscape Arrives as the Anti-Festival". Billboard. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  4. ↑ Silverman, Miriam D. (2006). Stopping the plant : the St. Lawrence Cement controversy and the battle for quality of life in the Hudson Valley. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press. p. 3. ISBN 0791469611.
  5. ↑ Pratt, Sam. "How the Basilica Came to Be". sampratt.com. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
  6. 1 2 Griffin, Amy (24 July 2011). "Basilica Hudson a new temple of contemporary art". Times Union. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
  7. ↑ Silverman, Miriam D. (2006). Stopping the plant : the St. Lawrence Cement controversy and the battle for quality of life in the Hudson Valley. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press. p. 4. ISBN 0791469611.
  8. ↑ "1,000+ throng Patti Smith benefit concert to stop St. Lawrence Cement". friendsofhudson.com. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
  9. ↑ "Hudson, New York's Basilica Music Festival Presented in Association with Pitchfork". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
  10. ↑ "Best of Arts". Metroland. 19 July 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
  11. ↑ Carlson, Jen. "Melissa Auf der Maur Tells Us What To Expect At This Summer's Basilica Music Fest". Gothamist. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
  12. ↑ Opgenorth, Lucas. "Fun Times, Good Vibes at Basilica Soundscape". Bard Free Press. Retrieved 2 October 2013.

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