Our Networks
Connections - Collaboration - Relationship - Community - Reciprocity - Culture
ARQ exists because of, and in support of our wider Finger Lakes community. We consider ourselves extremely lucky to be just one long-running thread in the rich tapestry of artists, makers, musicians, vintners, brewers, event producers, food growers, and community spaces that make up the Finger Lakes region.
We have LOTS of interconnected relationships, built intentionally over our multiple decades across the Finger Lakes and national arts scene. Below are highlighted some of our more recent and active local community networks that help support us, and we support in turn.
Arts-Related Networks
Community Arts Partnership of Tompkins County
ARQ was a member of the Greater Ithaca Art Trail for over 15 years, most notably for Durand’s Forge and Sculpture Garden at ARQ. The Community Arts Partnership of Tompkins County has also supported a number of ARQtists over the years with various exhibits, grants, and professional services. ARQ is located just beyond the Tompkins County line. We appreciating them expanding the map some 100 yards to include us!
Ithaca Murals
Ithaca Murals is a network of people transforming gray walls into beautiful, meaningful works of art that tell the stories of the diverse people who live here. IM welcomes everyone to be involved with Ithaca Murals while prioritizing the leadership of people of color, under-employed and working class people, people with jail experience, women, LGBTQ+ community members, youth, and anyone who is passionate about justice.
ARQtist co-owner Zoë Van Nostrand has served as a board member for Ithaca Murals since 2022. In 2024 we collaborated to bring the first (of many we hope!) barn mural to ARQ, with the Goldfinch mural painted by Margalo Guo on the Grey Barn. In 2019 ARQ was a sponsor for the Justice Walls project.
Hector Handmade
Hector Handmade operated as a hyper local arts gallery on Route 414 for seven years (2017-2024); exclusively featuring art made within 30 miles of the gallery (which included everything made at ARQ!).
This included hosting exhibits and selling works of many current and former ARQtists: David Van Nostrand, Alex Van Nostrand, Ben Marlan, Arlo Ringsmuth, Stacey Estabrook, Owen Mann, and Nicole Costa among others. We are grateful to co-owners Jennie & Jesse for their beloved stewardship of our local arts community, and all their love that went into supporting local arts.
The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes
The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes is the regional organization that empowers artists and encourages arts advocacy, fosters creativity and economic vitality, creates diverse connections and collaborations, and champions innovation and equity within the arts to cultivate a dynamic community.
We are very excited that ARQ has received its first ever ARQtists Collective grant from the ARTS Council in February 2025, to host a series of community events and programs this coming summer as part of our inaugural “Community in Bloom” series.
Hector Foundation
We are grateful to the Hector Foundation for serving as our non-profit fiscal sponsor for our 2025 ‘Community in Bloom’ programming.
The Hector Foundation strives to inspire and motivate the Hector community to create a family-centered environment for existing and future members of our community.
Local Food & Beverage Biz Relationships
Local Farm & Food Producers
Without local farmers, ARQ would not exist. Truly, we are a community of artists housed in former agricultural buildings. Our artists have worked with more local food producers than we can name, but we are in deep and continuous awe and appreciation for all the growers and cultivators of nourishment across our region. Especially to those who have welcomed the work of ARQtists over the years into their production, event, and public operations. We would not have had as many amazing artworks come from ARQ, without the equally amazing food produced locally.
ARQ has been host to beehives tended by our nearby neighbors at Bright Raven Farm & Apiary since 2023. Our first ARQ honey is now being sold through their gorgeous arts shop the Honeybee Embassy.
Bright Raven Farm & Apiary
Van Noble Farm
Van Noble Farm has been a long-time supporter of ARQ. Collaborating with our metal-smiths in creating a number of pig roasting mechanisms over the last decade, helping us plant fields of sunflowers, and lending equipment and tools as rural friends do.
Their 2023 “Pork Shop” located in the DeWitt Mall in downtown Ithaca included ironwork by ARQtists Teo Aceto and Chris Langenberg, and a handcut wooden bar made by Ben Marlan from the late David Van Nostrand’s wood collection.
Seneca Lake Beverage Producers
Damiani Wine Cellars has employed more than a few ARQtists over the years. Hosting exhibitions and commissioned iron work pieces by ARQtists Aaron Arlinghaus, Alex Van Nostrand, Ben Marlan, and Durand’s Forge among others. Their tasting room includes multiple ironwork pieces from Durand’s Forge, curated over decades, and you’d be hard put to join an ARQtist gathering without being offered a glass of their beloved Bollicini.
Forge Cellars head winemaker Leana Goddard, has called ARQ home since 2022. In addition to producing phenomenal wines, Forge has supported ARQtists through public exhibitions in their Salon. Including collaborations with Nicole Costa, Ben Marlan, Durand’s Forge, and the Straffan Forge Knife Collective.
Osmote Winery has been collaborating extensively with the Metal Shops at ARQ, commissioning custom iron work from The Pro Shop, Crepuscular Forge, and Straffan Forge Knife Collective.
Atwater Vineyards - For over a decade all visitors to the Atwater tasting room were served over a multi-level woodwork bartop constructed by David Van Nostrand in the late 2000s. This bar was David’s largest and most complex finished wood work piece. The wood bar was decommissioned by Atwater in 2023. Their outdoor bar was sold to Hector Wine Company, the indoor bar tops are currently in storage.
Two Goats Brewing - The iconic curved glowing arrow welcoming folks to the Two Goats Brewing driveway was fabricated in the ARQ metal shops in the early 2020s. ARQ metal workers worked on the original metal railings and display pieces for Two Goats when the brewery first opened in 2010.
ARQ has had long relationships with a number of wineries and beverage producers along Seneca Lake’s iconic route 414. These community spaces have hosted numerous exhibits, musical performances, openings, and commissioned works from ARQtists over multiple decades; we are immensely grateful to live in a community where all our rural businesses prioritize supporting local artists and craftspeople.
ARQ also produces food, mostly consumed by ARQtists and our friends.
Homesteading in the “we live nearly 20 minutes from grocery stores” way of life.
vegetables - fruits - berries - maple syrup - cider (NO CHICKENS - seriously, this barn has seen enough chickens for all our lifetimes)