Art Studio-to-be, photo by Mike Sinclair
Donate online here
in the “Note to seller” box, add: Art Studio
Naming opportunity available
please inquire here
Renovating this existing building will maintain the historical character of Volland and keep it within the “campus” of the artist residences.(for more history of the house see below)
A purpose-built painting studio is pivotal to the Volland Residency Program, which awards artists from across the country the gift of time and space in the endangered tallgrass prairie of the Kansas Flint Hills. For more information about our artist residency program, click here.
When not in use as an artist studio for the residency program, it will provide a place for workshops and community-related art programs.
The entire volume of the original house will be used for the studio, allowing for natural light and adequate space for working. A lean-to addition will provide an ADA-compliant entrance and bathroom, plus additional space for facilitating art activities. The exterior of the building will be kept as original as possible.
Design by eldorado architects
History
The house originally sat at the Fix farm next door (where Mill Valley Lodge now stands). One of the Fix daughters married the storekeeper in Volland, and the newlyweds were living in the shed addition of the Store. Mr. and Mrs. Fix hitched up some workhorses to drag this house from their farm to sit next to the store – to provide a proper residence for their daughter. Later, Bill and Otto Kratzer occupied this house when they moved to Volland to open Kratzer Brothers Mercantile in 1906. It sat by the Old Store (down the road toward the railroad) and was eventually moved to its present location.
In later years it was used as an occasional gathering place for the descendants of John Cromer, a long-time resident of Volland. His descendants were cousins who had moved to the East and West coasts, where their children still live. The cousins are now deceased, and the remaining family gifted it to The Volland Store LLC, who donated it to the Volland Foundation in November 2020.
It will be filled with life again, and we think the Kratzer brothers, Mr. Cromer, and the cousins would be pleased – and Mr. and Mrs. Fix of course.
Any amount is greatly appreciated
Thank you for your consideration!
