Judith McElhone’s lofty vision for creating a world-class contemporary art center in northwest Connecticut has taken flight. On June 30, closing papers were signed transferring ownership of the former University of Connecticut Regional Campus in Torrington to Five Points Center for the Visual Arts, of which McElhone is founder and executive director.
“It was two months and two years in the making,” said McElhone, referring to the timeframe since submitting a letter of interest to purchase the shuttered campus on University Drive, which has a 30,000-square-foot building and 90 acres.
“With the purchase of the campus facility, we will intensify our efforts to encourage exploration among cutting-edge artists while opening new avenues of community interaction.”
The deal transfers ownership of the main building and slightly more than 22 acres from UConn to Five Points. The remainder of the unimproved acreage is being leased by the City of Torrington to Five Points for $1 a year for 20 years, with an eventual option to buy in the future.
The long-awaited transaction took place with little fanfare due to COVID-19, but McElhone said she plans to “do a major launch party on the campus in September,” amid a spectacular autumn backdrop.
“COVID-19 is impacting everything,” but it isn’t stopping progress, said McElhone. “The building itself is almost turn-key, and we are retrofitting artist work spaces. As soon as we get settled in, we will hold outside programming. The idea is to use the land in a safe way — and it’s much safer outside with COVID-19.”
The immediate goal, she said, is to create a safe, welcoming outdoor space for artists, friends, neighbors and visitors. “Plein-air painting, drawing marathons, concerts and outdoor movies can provide much-needed sanctuaries for healing and creating. Seldom has the world needed these collaborations more than today.”
Overall, said McElhone, the transformation of the property will create a unique, sustainable multi-level visual arts center and adjacent art park that will strengthen the social fabric and economic growth of the region. At capacity, the center is expected to generate 20 new full-time positions and 15 part-time teaching and staff positions. “When you bring in artists, economic development follows,” she noted.
The center’s executive director said the acquisition will “solidify Five Points Center as among the most progressive arts organizations in New England.”
Future plans include renovation of the main campus to include fully equipped artists workspaces including studios for painting, sculpture, ceramics, textiles and print, a bio-lab, digital lab, darkroom and courtyard sensory garden. The existing 245-seat auditorium and commercial kitchen will allow for large indoor gatherings and the 90-acre art park will showcase sculptures created by regional, national and international artists.
One of the most important aspects of the new center, said McElhone, will be the Lynchpin Program, envisioned as “a Thinktank for artists to collaborate and experiment.” Thinktank artists, she said, will be selected for their interest in issues impacting everyday life. “There will be an emphasis on the environment and planet sustainability,” she said.
Funds raised combined with grants will cover needed renovation, facility and program needs. The actor and musician Kevin Bacon, who has a home in Litchfield County, is the honorary chair of the new Arts Center’s fundraising campaign.
McElhone, a lifelong artist who taught painting at Northwestern Connecticut Community College in Winsted for many years before founding Five Points Gallery in 2012, marveled at how a plan to open a humble summer storefront art gallery in the heart of Torrington has taken on a life of its own.
“Who knew?” said McElhone, that the success of that temporary space would lead to the founding of a permanent Five Points Gallery, as a dedicated space to exhibit works by prominent regional, national and international contemporary artists. At one time, she mused, she had to practically beg artists to exhibit in Torrington, and now she is “bombarded” with applications from Connecticut and beyond.
Today, Five Points Center for the Visual Arts is a multifaceted contemporary art initiative that includes the Five Points Gallery, a 2,800-square-foot space composed of three adjacent galleries in downtown Torrington; a consortium with Hartford Art School/University of Hartford, University of Connecticut College of Art and Northwestern Connecticut Community College, where interns learn professional gallery management and receive training as docents; and the Five Points Gallery/Hartford Art School Launchpad Initiative, a pilot incubator program to support emerging artists and recent graduates of the Hartford Art School through affordable studio space and mentoring programs.
The center also includes the Five Points Annex, a community pop-up gallery and exhibition space managed by the Launchpad artists, located two doors from Five Points Gallery in Torrington; and an annual lecture series featuring influential members of the national art world. Past speakers have included Ann Temkin, MoMA’s chief curator for painting and sculpture; Milton Esterow editor and publisher of ARTnews; Agnes Gund, president emerita of MoMA; and celebrated painters, Eric Fischl, Robert Berlind and Maureen Gallace.
McElhone credits staff, volunteers and supporters for helping to write the newest chapter in the center’s history. “They are all wonderful people who understand that the arts are more than a commodity,” and that the interaction between arts and science “can make a big difference in the world.”
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Students dressed in neon lined the soccer field for senior night under the lights on Thursday, Oct. 16. The game against Lakeview was the last in a series of competitions Thursday night in celebration of Homecoming 2025.
As homecoming week reaches its end and fall sports finish out the season, an air of school spirit and student participation seems to be on the rise across Housatonic Valley Regional High School.
But what can be attributed to this sudden peak of student interest? That’s largely due to SGA. Also known as the Student Government Association, SGA has dedicated itself to creating events to bring the entire student body together. This year, they decided to change some traditions.
Spirit week from Oct. 14-17 was unlike those of the previous years. From wearing Housatonic merch to Boomer vs Baby day, this year’s spirit week held a little friendly competition to see which grade could participate the most.
“I think that students are bored of the same old activities and events, so it’s good to switch things up even slightly to incentivize interest within students,” said SGA president and senior Mollie Ford. “Plus the point system is super beneficial because it gives students a reason to participate.”
The school spirit sentiment can be seen outside of just the school. Senior Simon Markow is known for his photography throughout the community, and has dedicated time to help Housy sports teams’ social media posts.
“Since I’ve started photography, I think school attendance [at sports games] has gone up,” Markow said. “I feel this year, students will be more aware of games and are more likely to be at the games.”
Whether it’s a pink-out volleyball game or an under the lights soccer match, it’s likely you’ll see some familiar faces.
Social media has played a large role in this over the years. Almost every student organization at Housatonic has an Instagram account, and it’s helped reach students more efficiently than a poster or email would.
“The increase of social media use, with the help from me but as well as the teams themselves has definitely increased student interest,” Markow said. “With Housy teams posting more about their upcoming games, and my help showing the cool goals, spikes, or touchdowns, it’s enlightened students to watch the games themselves.”
In a small school, promoting pride has proven to be a challenge. But this year’s senior class has made some adjustments in the hopes to change that.
“The SGA community has spent the last few years really focusing on student participation, because we think it’s the students who contribute to a better climate,” Ford said. While Housatonic’s student body may be small in size, it seems they certainly aren’t small in spirit.
The weekend of Homecoming at HVRHS was packed with events including rival games under the lights, senior night, and a new take on Homecoming that moves it outside — and it wouldn’t have been possible without the students of Housatonic.
Orchestrating was no easy feat, especially considering much of the work was left up to the students.
Historically, HVRHS has hosted night games for boys and girls soccer and the GNH football team, but when members of the soccer team asked the athletic director, Anne MacNeil, she left it up to the students to acquire the lights necessary to host a night game.
“I said, ‘Hey, if you can find the lights, we can make it happen,’” MacNeil said. “I usually take control of it, but I really wanted to have the teams have the initiative and take responsibility for it. I think by having them do that, they have a lot more invested in it.”
Finding lights for the game was a challenge in and of itself, and it fell on the students, parents, and alumni to come together if there was to be a night game at all.
Luckily for the players, Patricia and Dino Labbadia, parents of senior Anthony Labaddia, were able to amass the support of the community and get all the necessary equipment donated for the night game.
“We’re fortunate with our communities. Our parents know people in communities and they were able to ask… [and] find the resources,” MacNeil said. “We’ve got a great senior group and senior parent group who have really taken charge … and really made the whole season possible.”
In the end, the night came together spectacularly, and the senior ceremonies, rivalry games, and nighttime fixtures made for a memorable night on the day before Homecoming.
The action began at 4 p.m. Thursday, when the JV Girls Volleyball team played rivals Lakeview High School at home.
At 4:30, the middle school boys soccer team as well as the cross country team faced Northwestern at Housatonic’s lower field and cross country course respectively. Also at 4:30, the JV boys soccer team took on rival Lakeview at Housatonic’s upper field.
At 5:15, the girls varsity volleyball team honored their seniors at Housatonic’s Senior Night ceremony, including captains Katie Crane and Victoria Brooks, before an intense match against Lakeview.
At 6:15, the boys varsity soccer team honored their seniors, including captains Everet Belancik and Abram Kirshner, before kicking off under the lights at Housatonic’s upper field against the Bobcats.
Friday night changes
Typically, Homecoming is hosted in the cafeteria with a DJ and the entire room open as a dance floor. Dancing is the main event, with a small photo op stationed next to one of the exits.
The typical formal dance filled with LED lights and glitter looked a bit different this year. For the HVRHS 2025 Homecoming, the activities all took place outside. There was a large bonfire for students to hang around, a tented area perfect for dancing, and lawn games to play.
The inspiration for this change comes from the Homecoming hosted during the COVID-19 social distancing restrictions put into place at the time. Senior class President Madison Graney said “Other years passed, graduating classes really enjoyed it and we wanted to give it a try.”
Although the theme of Homecoming remains the same, new tasks came in preparation for the event. Including the Bonfire “adds a whole new component,” Graney said. “[We] have to contact the fire department to ensure that the bonfire is being contained.” Hosting the dance outside also demanded “more preparation the day before … set up the tents and make sure it’s a safe and fun space for everyone to enjoy.”
Opinions about Homecoming’s new look vary amongst the student body, with some excited for change and others comfortable with the familiarity of an inside dance. Alexa Meach, an HVRHS senior, expressed that “Everyone that I’ve talked to’s plan is to get dressed up, take photos, and then change into more comfortable clothes because it’s going to be freezing. I feel like we could have had a different event for the bonfire. I think they could have been two separate events.”
Graney said the change is “A really great way to change up the tradition ... [and] another good way to get to know your peers and your teachers and interact with the student body all at once.”
