John Gilmore has converted an old church into a place for everything arts
On Aug. 23, Noblesville’s John Gilmore picked up his 1957 Gibson guitar and opened his vision – Logan Street Sanctuary – with an open house concert. Gilmore, a singer/songwriter, revitalized an old church and created a family-friendly venue dedicated to “everything arts.”
“Painters, pottery, poets – it doesn’t matter,” he said.
The 2,400 square feet building at 1274 Logan St. includes a performance area and pews that seat 80 people. The building has held six concerts already and provides an outlet for acoustic musicians looking to showcase their talents.
“My passion is songwriting. There are a lot of good local songwriters,” he said. “People don’t listen to you in a bar. This is a listening room and songwriters and serious musicians love that.”
Mindful of his surroundings, Gilmore said he won’t allow any events he would want going on at his neighbor’s house.
“I’ve turned some people away because I just can’t have them here,” he said. “The loudest thing in the room easily is the piano.”
Gilmore, who is well known for his bluegrass and Americana music around town, first began playing the guitar at a young age.
“I’ve played since the guitar was taller than I was,” he joked.
Having his own venue wasn’t Gilmore’s first thought. Instead he was looking for studio space and somewhere he could provide guitar and mandolin lessons. Gilmore first tried Nickel Plate Arts in downtown Noblesville.
“They were booked up solid and had a waiting list a mile long,” he said. “Then I thought about getting a piece of property and doing things there.”
Gilmore said it was “dumb luck” he stumbled across 1274 Logan St.
“It went from studio space to a performance venue and gallery space,” he said.
When it was first built – circa 1900 – the building was an army barracks in Ohio. In 1938 Christ Lutheran Church moved it to its present location on Logan Street.
“It’s a plain, humble building. They must have been sentimental about it,” Gilmore said.
The modest building’s last tenant was a Pentecostal church that left three years ago.
“I thought it might be haunted,” Gilmore said. “I guess they left when they saw me coming.”
Gilmore purchased the home in April and has spent thousands of dollars renovating the space to become a performance venue, recording studio and gallery space. Besides rewiring and painting the inside, Gilmore is looking to update the façade and create an exhibition area.
“It is pretty comfortable and fully functional,” Gilmore said, adding that because he is not eligible for grant money he is looking for help to cover operating costs. “I’m hoping to get teachers in here and out of their homes, to lure teachers to do recitals here and small weddings.”
In his gallery are works from local artists including Gabriel Lehman, John Reynolds, Bruce Neckar, Michael Janosky, Megan Hopkins, Aly Caviness-Gober, Nate Smith and Joanie Drizin, who has a sculpture outside the building. In its short time, Gilmore has sold three art pieces.
“I want people to be able to sell their paintings here,” he said. “I’m thrilled to be a part of that network – an unofficial annex of Nickel Plate Arts. There’s nothing like this as a performance place.”
Gilmore said the building also offers a studio to record demos.
“Part of wanting a place like this is getting the recording gear out of my house,” he said.
Gilmore, a retired mailman, said his passion is for music – not business. He received help from a number of community leaders to make his endeavor possible. After talking with Nickel Plate Arts Director Aili McGill, Gilmore spoke with former classmate and Noblesville Chamber of Commerce President Sharon McMahon. She suggested he talk with Noblesville Main Street President Renee Oldham, who in turn introduced him to Noblesville Economic Specialist Alaina Shonkwiler.
Shonkwiler said Gilmore’s idea fit in with Mayor John Ditslear’s arts initiative for the city, which has an emphasis on downtown and Old Town.
“It was a vacant space – used as a church in the past in a residential area. It’s not something we usually work on,” she said. “Because of John’s interest and passion we realized there was a need and he could fill it. There was a grand vision for what he wanted to do … A smaller performance space, we don’t have a venue like that, especially in downtown.”
“It is wonderful to have a casual music venue within walking distance of the Noblesville square. It can add a fun, high-quality opportunity to local nightlife and because John is interested in granting such broad access to artists and musicians, it has the opportunity to become a really unique and highly-valued proving ground for local talent,” McGill said.
Shonkwiler said Logan Street Sanctuary is exactly what the name says – a refuge for local artists of every medium.
“He’s really been supporting other artists. He’s doing what he can,” she said.
Meet John Gilmore
Age: 54
Hometown/residence: Noblesville
Hobbies: Other than music, Gilmore loves his dogs
How he got into music: Gilmore was looking for a hobby. His parents were very supportive and bought him whatever instruments or equipment he heeded.
Favorite song to perform: “Pretty Bird,” a song he wrote
Personal motto: “I think everyone needs a creative outlet and arts and music are just the best.”
Upcoming events at Logan Street Sanctuary include:
Nov. 1 – 7 p.m., Troubadours of Divine Bliss
Nov. 3 – 3 p.m., Key Trio
Nov. 9 – 7 p.m., 2013 Polk Street Book launch party
Nov. 30 – 7 p.m., Midwest Rhythm Exchange
Logan Street Sanctuary, 1274 Logan St., is open by appointment or for events. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/LoganStreetSanctuary or call 695-4458.
