Cooperstown Observed by Sam Goodyear
Oh, for Art’s Sake!
Ars gratia artis, the Latin motto over the MGM lion, proclaims, “Art exists for its own sake.” It is its own justification. It has no specific purpose, be it cultural, social or political. Be that as it may, for eons people have turned to art for a number of reasons: pleasure, enlightenment, reflection, solace. In Cooperstown, we are well served in matters of art.
In a village famous for its museums, the grande dame is Fenimore Art Museum, with its permanent collection, its visiting exhibitions, and its native-American splendors. The staircase leading to the lower galleries is a work of art in itself. Not to be overlooked, is the Community Gallery tucked away in a corner on the second floor. As its name implies, it displays works from local sources and is not to be missed.
Alongside the eminence of the Fenimore Art Museum powers the venerable Cooperstown Art Association, with its headquarters in the Village Hall and its branches at The Smithy and the Clay Studio.
Perhaps surprisingly, the Baseball Hall of Fame has a small gallery devoted to baseball arts, including the famous Norman Rockwell three umpires. Within the precincts of the museum there’s also an Andy Warhol. Pretty darn impressive, if you ask me.
Nor do we lack for statuary, viz. James Fenimore Cooper in Cooper Park, the Sandlot Kid at Doubleday Field, the Indian Hunter in Lakefront Park, the War Memorial on Pine Boulevard, and the intriguing Storm Cloud by Akira Niitsu in front of Village Hall on Main Street. And let’s not overlook the joyous multi-colored animals of the merry-go-round at The Farmers’ Museum.
If you are looking for art of a spiritual nature, visit the five churches of Cooperstown with their stained-glass windows. The Samye Hermitage, a Buddhist Center on Glimmerglen Road, contains a tri-partite golden altar, which dazzles and at the same time inspires serenity and reverence. If the saying that great things come in small packages is true, no better proof can be found than at the remarkable Art Garage, a two-bay gem on Beaver Meadow Road. You’ll thank your lucky stars you checked it out.
Be careful where you walk. Occasionally you will encounter youthful chalk drawings on the sidewalk. Step aside as you pass by. We wouldn’t want to trample on the creation of a budding Picasso, now would we?
Vivat ars!
Sam Goodyear was born in Cooperstown and, because of his father’s profession in the Foreign Service, grew up all over the world and continued that pattern throughout his adult life until two years ago, when he returned to where he was born. It took him only 80 years to do so.