OXFORD – By this time, it is difficult to imagine downtown Oxford without the 6 on the Square – despite the fact that it’s only been five years since the first music and art lovers walked through its doors.
Since that time, everyone from acoustic singer-songwriters to electric five-piece bands have stepped on the stage, introducing dozens of genres to eager crowds.
One of those singer-songwriters, Vance Gilbert, returned to the 6OTS stage for the third time on Saturday to help a crowd of 68 (which practically filled the venue/art gallery) celebrate the five-year anniversary of the quickly-developing local landmark.
“Vance has been coming down around this time for three years to help us celebrate and think back on how far we’ve come in the last year, or five,” said 6OTS Manager Nancy Morey. “People like his very sharp wit and the way he throws incidents from his life into the two sets.”
Morey explained that he “keeps the audience caught up on what’s going on in his life” including his neighbors and his boat. She said the crowd loved feeling like “they were a part of his life and he, theirs.”
Gilbert’s repertoire included crowd-pleasing songs about everything from airplanes to pidgeons. Although some of his songs are just plain fun, many contain a message about hope and the goodness of things, said Morey.
The evening also included a “birthday” cake for the venue and all of the volunteers and board of directors who helped make the location what it is today.
Six on the Square currently has nine directors on the board and dozens of volunteers serving in numerous capacities around the facility. For example, many volunteers staff the kitchen, set up sound for the performances, or write press releases.
“It’s something that you can spend a lot of hours doing, not for the pay, but because you love it more than anything else,” said Morey. “We all want the venue to succeed and we’re doing a really great job.”
Morey explained that the last year in particular has been very successful for the venue. In addition to two Chenango County Council of the Arts decentralization grants received in order to put on two free shows in the park this summer, the R.C. Smith Foundation provided a matching grant of $4,000 for a new green room on the second floor of the building.
The green room will be a place for performers to stow their gear, eat a meal or just relax for a few minutes. There is also additional room for extra equipment and office space for 6OTS volunteers. Giltner’s also donated floor coverings to the project.
“We’re very happy to have the extra space for the performers,” said Morey. “Vance [Gilbert] was the first person to use it and he was very pleased.”
Of course, music isn’t the only medium on display at 6 on the Square. Currently, students from every grade of Oxford Academy have art work hanging on the walls of the venue.
“We have a really good group of people volunteering that are working to keep art going ... and the community is just amazing,” she said. “The first five years have been a good learning experience ... and we’re working to remain responsive to what the community wants to see or what they want to do.”