Cecy's: A New Vision for Art in Durham

Imagine if you will, living in a city of cranes, surrounded by skyscrapers and new apartments that seem to pop up every day – Oh, HI Durham! We love you.

Then remember that there’s a beautiful oasis called Durham Central Park, where kids play in the playground and every Saturday there’s a thriving farmers market, craft market, food trucks, music, and an Art Market. There’s a food hall (coming soon on Foster Street), great restaurants, small businesses and …

… a new art hall called Cecy’s!

A new vision for art space that is wide open and full of love, life, and music. Preserving an existing Durham building on the corner of Foster and Hunt, Cecy's will house artist studios, classes, events, community gatherings, and a gallery.

Cecy’s place will make local art of all kinds completely accessible and fun.

Cecy’s is the creation of Cecilia Henaine de Davis, owner of Beadazzled by Cecilia jewelry designs, founder of the weekly Art Market at Vega Metals, and manager of the Vega Metals/Cricket Forge Gallery on Hunt Street.

We recently learned that Cricket Forge is moving away from Hunt Street, and the Vega building may be put to different use.

But, with your help, there can still be a haven for artists and art lovers in the neighborhood. Through a stroke of luck, Cecilia was able to lease space in what has been Cole’s Transmission Shop. With YOUR support, we can turn this massive industrial space into a welcoming, open art hall for Durhamites to enjoy the amazing talent and community thriving in our city.

A message from Cecilia: “Cecy's will be a place where you come and see all kinds of arts in any shapes and forms. I will be offering classes with artists well known in the community and some from out of town. There will be spaces for artists to work and be able to sell at Cecy’s or anywhere.

I love to help entrepreneurs of any kind, but I have a special place in my heart for young people who learn a new skill that they can turn into a business. I want to help more people do that.

I got my start in jewelry-making through sharing it with women in domestic violence recovery. We created a jewelry group, kind of like the old quilting bees. It allowed women to talk, network and build a skill that could allow them to become financially independent. Through that, I learned the power of unlocking your inner creativity. Working with your hands is also very therapeutic and can help your mental health. Cecy's will help women, kids, anybody that comes through our doors.

Opening Cecy’s will also allow me to continue hosting the Saturday morning Art Market, which has become such a beloved fixture in Durham Central Park over its ten year history. My goal is to bring all cultures together every Saturday morning where anyone from anywhere can have a taste of home. Bring your dogs, your kids, and enjoy the morning.

The Art Market has been a springboard for many local artists to go from working from home to having a real brick and mortar business, or to having their artwork be their sole source of income. It has generated strength in Durham’s economy and enriched our local art scene.

It’s vitally important for the Art Market to continue -- many people’s livelihoods depend on it.

Small businesses are the heart of any community. I’m not a big real estate developer; I’m an artist and neighbor. My goal is to preserve the unique feel of the Durham Central Park area and create an amazing space where artists and Durham residents can gather to learn and grow.

But time is of the essence, friends! I need your support to get the shop converted into a gallery and studio in early 2019.  We plan to start renovations in January so we can be open for business as soon as possible!"

How you can help: click the Support Now button and the Share Project button. Check out our great rewards and give at the highest level that works for you. Share the project – if you tell 5 friends about what we’re doing, and they all give at the $25 level – we’ll reach our goal in no time!

Thank you for your support! You mean everything to this project, and I can't thank you enough. -- Cecy