Zia’s first first film, “Always All Ways, Anne Marie” filmed in 2011-2012, and her hybrid revisitation and critically acclaimed “My First Film” filmed in 2019 were both shot in part at the ARQ Barn.

ARQ features prominently in “My First Film” as the set location for the party scenes, as well as backdrop for many other scenes.

"Nighttime in July" is a 2016 single from acclaimed FLX based band Maddy Walsh & the Blind Spots (MW&TBS) (in 2016 known just as “The Blind Spots”). The music video was partially filmed at ARQ during our 2015 “Summer Jam” capturing the exuberance and joy of these community events in the 2010s, other filming sets include locations around the Finger Lakes.

Filmed in the late summer of 2021, Tidal Wave is a short music film that explores themes of vulnerability and confinement, loss and rebirth, and the shared experience of isolation.

Tidal Wave was created by ARQtist Soft Squadron (Heather Fae Calla) and Playhouse90 (Kristi Gogos and Jacob Mroczek), with support from Thanks For Coming another ARQtist resident.

ARQtist Jessie Garmhausen connected with the Dripped on the Road (DOTR) traveling artist residency in the summer of 2017 to bring them to Ithaca.

DOTR camped out at ARQ for three weeks while working on the collaborative Firehouse 5 mural on State St in downtown Ithaca. Their mini-documentary web series from that summer features the ARQ barn.

In 2021 we planted 3 acres of sunflowers. The resulting floral exuberance inspired multiple photoshoots, visiting drawing groups from the Cayuga Arts Collective, a short book written by Brett Beardslee, and a painting by Claire Deng.

In the 2010s our summer events included corresponding interactive art pieces, and arts vendors in our apple orchard. Some memories from here include The Space Potato, Canadian Tuexedo Tent, the Pennies, The Kissing Booth, and more. ARTe of the Finger Lakes and Ben Marlan were the lead coordinators for these intimate arts expressions in the 2010s.

In 2024 through a collaboration with Ithaca Murals, Margalo Guo painted a vibrant depiction of an American Goldfinch, and a wildflower bouquet including Goldenrod and Purple Aster on the Grey Barn Door (Goldenrod level).

The beloved Mid-Winter Blast aka the Pie Party was hosted by Durand Van Doren in the Hickory, Black Walnut, and Chestnut studios annually throughout the 2010s. The night included shared food, music, dancing, and fires.

Each year Durand and other workers in the Forge would craft a fantastical pie display structure. These included the iconic Pie Ferris Wheel, EmPIEr State Building, Garden of Eatin’, Dragon Rack, and dozens more. The Pie Display collection was sold as part of Durand’s retirement in 2021.

Local band Big Mean Sound Machine hosted the first two Big Mean BBQ music festivals at ARQ (then the CRAQ Barn) during the summers of 2015 and 2016; before the festival graduated to the Grassroots off-site grounds on Agard Road.

This one year we threw a summer solstice party for all our friends. It was a GREAT party. The next year all our friends, told all of their friends - and well the parties got bigger, the music got louder, and the installation art got more expansive.

Some favorites: The Mothership Has Landed, The CRAQbarn’s Big Adventure, and CRAQ in Black.

These parties occurred an uncertain number of years between 2008-2018. No one can claim to have come to every party except David VN.

Our thanks to the MANY creatives and collaborators who made these events so joyful and memory filled.