Mirnie Kashawa's 100th Birthday Celebration

We will be hosting a special celebration in memory of our founder, Mirnie Kashawa. Mirnie was the instrumental influence that brought View Arts Center to where it is today. The celebration will include Mirnie's favorite cake, sandwiches and snacks. There will be music, photos and a short program highlighting Mirnie and her influence on the Arts Center and community. Whether you knew Mirnie or not we welcome everyone to join us for this significant celebration. 

A brief history of Mirnie and how View was formed:

In 1952 Mirnie, with the help of some key people (her husband Hank, June Kiefer, Betty Crofut and others) started the Central Adirondack Art Show, which still goes on today and will be on display during Mirnie's celebration! Mirnie was speaking with a gentleman who said it was so unfortunate that there were no cultural activities in this area. Mirnie spontaneously replied that there was going to be an art show on their lawn in two weeks. “And that is how it began. And that is the truth;” direct from Mirnie’s lips. Hank cut saplings and strung them with chicken wire to create a labyrinth of walls on which to hang paintings. The chicken wire gallery design remained for many years thereafter and is now on display outside of the Wetland Walkway at View.

In 1965, Mirnie realized that in order to continue her vision to grow local appreciation for the arts and sciences, they needed more than just people. They needed an organization. Thus, a group of founding members applied to incorporate as The Arts Guild/Old Forge (TAG), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Mirnie’s vision has always included bringing the visual and performing arts to everyone; not just a select few. She hoped that all area residents would come to enjoy and take advantage of this opportunity.

In 1969 Mirnie established a modified Montessori school, the Kinderwood Preschool, in her living room. This school still goes on today and is located upstairs at View. In 1982 Mirnie instituted the renowned Adirondacks National Exhibition of American Watercolors (ANEAW). This remains one of our most popular exhibitions every year. 

In 2005 the ground was broken for the new Arts and Sciences Building located across Route 28 from the previous Art Center/Old Forge. Mirnie personally educated herself on every element of a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified building. This included geothermal, solar, and air energy. Construction was completed in January 2011. 

In Mirnie’s later years, she impressed others with her continued learning and creative pursuits. She invited accomplished musicians into her home to play her (father’s) 1908 Steinway Concert B grand piano for friends and neighbors. The Cabin in the Woods concert series brought her great joy. 2007, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the ANEAW, Mirnie collected and bound “Pondering Art: Beauty is the Bridge”; a collection of all her ANEAW essays. In 2009 she wrote a poem “I Am the Adirondacks” which was subsequently featured in a multimedia CD produced by Carl Heilman II.