WORCESTER — When Birgit Straehle and Luis Fraire were running the former Sprinkler Factory Gallery as, respectively, creative consultant and managing director, visitors would comment” that “we should date as we supposedly work well together,” Straehle recalled.
“Indeed, we were already married by that time,” she said.
The Sprinkler Factory Gallery at 38 Harlow St. was a key cultural popular spot in Worcester for several years as Straehle and Fraire produced or hosted more than 150 exhibitions and also provided a space for theater productions, music events and more until 2021 when the building had to close.
But Straehle and Fraire are still working well together. In 2022, they bought the White Room, an event venue at 138 Green St., in the Canal District, taking on a unique Worcester property and making it a home for art and community. The White Room now showcases visual artists, as well as other events including a monthly poetry series.
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They may well be Worcester’s best known arts couple, and ArtsWorcester has named Straehle and Fraire as this year’s ArtsWorcester Award recipients.
The award is given “to those making extraordinary contributions to arts and culture in this city,” the arts organization said. “Its recipient list serves as a history of arts leadership in Worcester.”
The 42nd ArtsWorcester Award will be presented at ArtsWorcester’s annual celebration beginning at 5 p.m. Sept. 4.
‘An extraordinary talent for connecting people’
Juliet Feibel, executive director of ArtsWorcester, said “Birgit and Luis have an extraordinary talent for connecting people and connecting them to, and through art. So many relationships — between artists, friends, project partners, even spouses — have been created because of them.”
However, the award came as a shock to the couple.
“I had no idea we would be considered as awardees,” Straehle said.
“As Juliet’s emails leading toward our meeting were cryptically joyful and enthusiastic, I imagined she had good news about an agricultural-themed exhibition that we both had dreamed about to co-curate since the old Sprinkler Factory days. The news regarding the award left me for a second speechless. It is truly an honor being recognized by an institution with a long and successful history and incredible recipients in the past, a lot we know and admire as well. We are very much looking forward to celebrating this recognition with the community, individuals and organizations that were part of our journey leading to this award,” Starehle said.
Straehle was born in Bavaria, Germany, and grew up in Michelstadt, Hesse. A paintings conservator, she came to Worcester initially as an art intern in 2003 and later worked at the Worcester Art Museum. Fraire is a musician and artist whose parents are from Mexico. He was born in Pennsylvania and grew up in Texas. He came to Worcester in 2000.
The couple met at the former Sahara Restaurant on Highland Street in 2007 and were married in 2012.
The White Room opened in June, 2022.
‘Creative energy’
“Luckily we inherited a good working model from the previous owner Amy Chase, and adding the arts to the venue was a good move. It’s interesting how original art adds a special value and creative energy to a space,” Fraire said. “The artwork on view experiences a wide range of audiences from various public and private events, and it is equally interesting how different groups respond and react to the art on display.”
Straehle added, “Now we enjoy being independent and having the power to instantly decide on all kinds of collaborations with groups we feel connected to and decide to support, in this way we also see a benefit for cultural and other communities.”
Still, they miss the Sprinkler Factory.
“Sprinkler Factory was a special structure with great ambience, the shows always felt big within such a long, wide and tall space, especially in recent years when the gallery tripled in size. Thankfully in general preservation and restoration of industrial mills seems to be happening more and more, but in the case of Sprinkler Factory, preserving the structure seemed to be especially challenging,” Fraire said.
“I could not be happier being at White Room, now that it appears to be the ideal space and work model for us. However, Sprinkler Factory was my first love and of course I miss it,” Straehle said.
“I visited an exhibition reception there just 12 days after I first arrived in Worcester for an internship in 2003 … I loved the space, the art, meeting people, witnessing countless connections and even the never ending challenges during our managing time from 2013 to 2021. If someone would be interested in the property now and saving the building with the gallery space, I would give up my other profession of 30 years as a paintings conservator and apply for the gallery manager position … wouldn’t it be wonderful to continue providing this cultural service for future generations in such a space?” she said.
Straehle agrees that she and Fraire work well together. “We share a lot of art interests, creating space, facilitating events and supporting artists in general. Each of us has unique talents, Luis in music and creating his own visual art and I enjoy providing unique and healthy hors d’oeuvre’s when we help organize public events like The Poet’s Cauldron. We are each from different backgrounds and we often add Mexican and German influences to our décor and food choices,” she said.
‘A welcoming, relaxing art and plant filled space’
The couple are still refining The White Room. “This year we are updating our gallery model, as opposed to having exhibitions with formal titles and concepts we are slowly adding new art to the venue for a continual presentation that evolves slowly over time. In addition artists have the option to list their artwork for sale,” Fraire said.
“We are constantly in the process updating the environment in various ways,” said Straehle.
“Although we are happy with having already created a welcoming, relaxing art and plant filled space, that is versatile for all kinds of occasions, we are always on the lookout for adding something special to the celebration hall. It can be new kitchen equipment, helping operations at events, or more important and visible to guests — we love adding new artwork and cultural events. Being always committed to promoting and supporting local art first we encourage the mix with national and international art reflecting/representing Worcester’s own abundance of creativity, but also its ties/roots and interactions to everywhere else in the world,” she said.
Also, the Ping Pong Salon, a table tennis event that is free and open to all including non players, “moved with us from Sprinkler Factory to White Room and we continue to provide community ping pong socials from time to time,” Straehle noted. “The White Room location might remain as headquarters, however with hopefully the support of the city and other organizations I am wishing to expand ping pong enthusiasm throughout the city and create additional safe and pleasant spaces for all. The goal is city wide installations of permanent concrete tables in public locations. For an art angle we envision designs on the table surfaces, maybe representing a district/destination or why not even a Smiley Face.”
The presentation of the 42nd Annual ArtsWorcester Award will take place at 5 p.m. Sept. 4 on the seventh floor of the Printers Building, 44 Portland St. Following the award presentation, guests will regroup on the first floor in the ArtsWorcester galleries at 44 Portland St. to celebrate the opening public reception of “Material Needs 2024.” This exhibition showcases the work of eight diverse artists who received grants in 2023 to fund their cost of materials. Artists featured include Christian Bachez, Lisa Barthelson, Nathan Fiske, Colleen Fitzgerald, Bridey McGlynn, Julia Mongeon, Danielle Ray and Joanne Stowell. “Material Needs 2024” runs through Oct. 20. ArtsWorcester is open Thursday through Sunday from to noon to 5 p.m. when an exhibition is on display.
Both events on Sept. 4 are free and open the public. Light refreshments and a cash bar will be available at the reception for “Material Needs 2024.” Guests are asked to register for the awards ceremony by visiting www.artsworcester.org/events.
