(LAMBERTVILLE, NJ) -- The historic landmark building, The Strand Theatre, which was destroyed by fire 50 years ago in Lambertville, New Jersey will get a new lease on life courtesy of the local artist, Kelly Sullivan. The iconic theater located on the oldest street in the bustling commercial district of Lambertville is slated to open in Spring 2023 as Strand Arts; An Enterprising Art House. Recreated and reimagined by Sullivan, the revival of the grand old gem solidifies her commitment to creating a high-quality performance/art space for community residents and visitors alike.
The concept for the space was developed by artist Kelly Sullivan, who has created customized collaborative artworks for corporate clients for over 25 years. Her vision for the nearly 5,000 sq ft building is multi-purpose - a space designed to host corporate and client meetings in a highly creative and professional environment combined with visual, musical, and performance arts, uniquely meeting the needs of clients in a completely tailored way. Strand Arts will be designed and renovated with state-of-the-art technology with broadcast capabilities.
Sullivan began the planning board application process in 2020, after securing a purchase option contract from RJF Holding (Finkles Hardware) for the iconic building. Although the onset of COVID-19 stalled the application process, it was unanimously approved by local governing bodies with great community support. Once approved, Finkles Hardware worked for months to empty the building that housed over 50 years of storage. Sullivan closed on the building in November of 2021 and renovations are underway.
Lambertville Mayor, Andrew J. Nowick says of the historic renovation, “Opened in 1915, the Strand Theatre served the movie-going pleasure of Lambertvillians for fifty-four years. For the next fifty-two years, the building served as a warehouse for Finkle’s. Enter Kelly Sullivan and her vision to create an assembly, performance, and art space dedicated to the community. Kelly bought the Strand and is hard at work to revitalize a building that will, once again, be a destination for Lambertvillians. And not only will the Strand enrich the local community, but it will no doubt draw many visitors to the city. Private vision, public good—this is the kind of project Mayors dream about. Here’s to Kelly Sullivan and the future success of the Strand!”
Architect Michael Farewell, who will be heading the project renovation has worked closely with Sullivan to bring to vision to fruition and refine her conceptual drawings into a state-of-the-art facility that will include a gracious lobby with an art wall mezzanine, an assembly space fitted with surround presentation capabilities, dressing rooms that double as breakout/meeting rooms, and a live/work two-bedroom apartment that will house Kelly’s painting studio.
Farewell said, “The great potential of the project is not only to save the Strand Theatre through restoring its grand historical façade and urban presence but also, in allowing the audience to pass through that historical scrim and into a new dynamic space, to create an experience of the fine and performing arts in a contemporary setting. Art is always a reflection of the past, and invention of the present.” In the early stages of the demolitions of the old wall coverings, remnants of the old theatre were unveiled dating back to 1915, much to the delight of the community.
Born and raised in Clinton Township, New Jersey, Kelly Sullivan knew she would be an artist when she was five years old, the year her grandmother surrounded her with paint and repeated simple but encouraging words: “Don’t be shy with the paint,” a refrain that stuck.
In her early years Sullivan focused on musical portraiture, painting those that inspired her, including Bruce Springsteen, John Lee Hooker, BB King, Pete Seeger, Jimmy Rogers and more. Her musical works graced the walls of BB Kings Blues Club in New York for years and showed in the Ambassador Gallery in Soho alongside that of Jerry Garcia and Ron Wood. Sullivan began producing multi-artist/discipline shows in the 1980’s that evolved into hands-on experiential events featuring working studios set up to introduce inner-city kids to the power of art. Forced to worked under the constraints of a tight budget to provide a “painting experience” for guests over a week-long festival, Sullivan invented a collaborative way of painting she called FingerSmears®. Incorporating hundreds of painters, FingerSmears® use only one canvas, and no brushes.
Since that week in 1994 when Sullivan staged her first FingerSmear®, over 100,000 people from around the world have participated in her collaborative paintings. Everyone from Fortune 500 CEO’s, to rock stars and other celebrities (including The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Edie Falco, Carol Burnett, Harrison Ford, and William DeFoe, among many others) have dipped their fingers in paint for Kelly. FingerSmears have continued to shape her career throughout her life.
This work led to an artist residency invitation where Kelly orchestrated a school wide integrated art exchange in Alta, Wyoming that collaborated with 7 sister schools around the world. Inspired by global aspects of the residency, Kelly launched Mighty Fingers Facing Change (MFFC). MFFC empowers and connects adolescent girls through art. She has produced Mighty Fingers Facing Change in dozens of locations around the world thus far.
In addition to creating new works in oil and mixed media, Kelly’s current focus is on renovating the old Strand Theatre in Lambertville, NJ. Gutted by fire in 1969, and shuttered as a warehouse for over 50 years, the building offers Kelly a new type of blank canvas. The new Strand Arts will be a multi-use art house with a mission to inspire bold and collaborative artistic experiences.
