Open Windows

Ever since I drove by what I thought was just another church in Charlotte, I have wanted to take pictures of this structure. Although the church in front was intact, the small building behind it was hollow, and it seemed to me, damaged by fire. I was right about the fire.

I had never driven around to the front of the church until today, and then realized that this church had been renovated and is now The McColl Center for Visual Arts. The former Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church was built in 1926, and became very popular with a large congregation. In the 1950's several factors played a part in the church's decline, and through the next twenty years, things only worsened until the congregation was forced to sell the church. After sitting empty for many years, in 1985, a terrible fire destroyed all but the outer walls of the structure.

For over a decade after the fire, the outer walls remained standing. Several sources describe the remnants after the fire as "ghostly", and even just the smaller outer structure that I photographed definitely has that feeling.

Fortunately, in 1996, the then CEO of Bank of America, Hugh McColl, came to the rescue. His company bought the church and the land, and through his guidance and love of the arts, The McColl Center was born.

The center has private studios for artists that receive grants through the artist in residence program, or the associate artists program. These grants provide money, living arrangements, and funding for artistic materials.

The studios are absolutely gorgeous, I spent quite a bit of time on their website tonight. I can't believe I just discovered this gift to our community.

To learn more about The McColl Center for Visual Arts, including information about exhibitions, the artists, and donation options, click here.

To find out more about the history of the church and the preservation process, click here.