page_title: Lyme Art Association
section_title: Building the gallery
hierarchical_section_title: Lyme Art Association / Building the gallery
caption_attribution_description: English: Charles A. Platt architectural plan Lyme Art Association 1920
context_page_description: Lyme Art Association is a non-profit art organization established in 1914, with roots going back to 1902. The organization maintains a historic art gallery located at 90 Lyme Street in Old Lyme, Connecticut, located in the Old Lyme Historic District. The gallery was built in 1921 and designed by famed architect and artist Charles A. Platt. Exhibitions are held throughout the year by member artists as well as visiting artists. The building also has a north-light studio where classes are conducted year-round.
context_section_description: Initially in 1914, plans for an art gallery were drawn up by New York architect Richard A. Walker, for a building to cost $14,000. The organization at this time was deciding between the purchase a portion of Florence Griswold's property, and a larger property further down the street. With the outbreak of World War I in 1914, plans for raising funds for the building of the gallery were delayed.
  In 1917, Lyme Art Association purchased land on Lyme Street just south of the home of Florence Griswold. This was land she deeded to LAA for a final selling price of $1,000. 
  In July 1919, the LAA voted to unite with the town of Old Lyme to build a Memorial Town Hall, with the agreement that the artists could hold their annual exhibition in the memorial building for one month each summer. LAA designated their building fund for this project, but withdrew it in December 1919 as the town objected to any group having exclusive use of the town hall.
  In 1920, American Renaissance architect Charles A. Platt had designed the gallery of the LAA, a service he donated to the group. Due to the fact the artists were self-funding and the resources were limited, the artists asked him to lower the skylights of his initial design, which he reluctantly agreed to do. New London-based contractors Canning & Leary were awarded the contract to construct Platt's final design, for a building cost of $20,000. Artist Lawton S. Parker chaired the building committee for LAA working with Charles Platt. Work on the construction of the gallery began in September 1920.
  On August 6, 1921, the Lyme Art Association Gallery was unveiled. The building measured 25'x88' with a wing 25'x32' and one high story. The gallery was built in a T-shape, with trellises wrapping around the back of the structure, which were ready to collect the vines that were beginning to grow. The building featured "white-dipped" shingles. The New York Times wrote about the unveiling:
  "Greater appropriateness, beauty of proportions and refinement of taste could hardly be found. The building belongs to the location as completely as a Connecticut wildflower to the countryside...to come upon it in the pleasant landscape is recognize it immediately as an embodiment of art in harmony with its natural surroundings"
  Inside, the walls were "dusky-blue" with "a faint suggestion of gold". The lighting from the skylights was considered perfect, with an even distribution of natural light on the walls. This was made possible by a translucent ceiling of white muslin lay-lights below the skylights. Inside the gallery, four large pillars stand, which can be removed to create one hall.
  Florence Griswold was the first gallery manager of the new building.
caption: Charles A. Platt plan for Lyme Art Association 1920
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