The couple, celebrating 10 years since moving here, shared their enthusiasm for Springfield’s arts community during a program on Tuesday, Dec. 6 at the Springfield Museum of Art. It was the final in the series, “Understanding Norman Rockwell,” tying into the Museum’s exhibition “Norman Rockwell: The Man Behind the Canvas,” which runs through Dec. 31.
The program explored Rockwell, his vision of what a small town was and compared it to where Springfield is now and what role artists have in a small town.
It isn’t as far as one may think when viewed the right way.
“Springfield has a broad arts community,” said Rulli. “We felt there was a bigger community here and thought it was a good fit for us.”
The move here wasn’t influenced by anything other than their instincts. Springfield inspires their art, including interesting neighborhoods and diverse architecture. Heaphy and Rulli were taken aback at first, saying people almost apologized after telling them they wanted to be here.
“We didn’t see it that way, then slowly little things happened the last four years. The people realized how good it is here,” Rulli said. One of the things they like about downtown Springfield is how many older buildings remain and their character. It’s what helped them decide to move their studio to the former Winchester Carton, a five-story brick building, and a sign of their belief in the community.
“We’re also preservationists in the community as well as artists,” said Heaphy, who wore a “Springfield Made” t-shirt on Tuesday. “If you don’t have a vibrant downtown a city will die.” Their work, that includes photography and mixed media pieces, goes directly to dealers all over the world and much of it captures aspects of Springfield.
With the addition of new downtown arts spaces including The Hub Gallery and The Hatch Artist Studios and a strong performing arts presence, Heaphy and Rulli think Springfield will continue to attract artists and diverse arts.
Just as Rockwell moved from New York to New England and didn’t follow the norm, it isn’t dissimilar in this case.
“It’s not an idealistic view of the past, but what it could be,” Heaphy said of Rockwell’s work. “It’s up to us.”
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