AbOUT

THE MILL (est. 2024) supports the creative work of world class contemporary artists and musicians through exhibitions, installations and performances which provide  engaging, multi-faceted cultural experiences for visitors.

The Mill in Westport, NEW YORK is an 11,000 square foot former grain mill that was originally constructed in 1952 as the Champlain Valley Seed Cooperative. In 2021 the building, which had been built to the highest standards of structural integrity, was purchased with the intent of restoring it and bringing it up to modern standards of efficiency. Over the next three years grain machinery was relocated, layers of flour dust were removed, and an extraordinary collaboration between creative director Taylor Haskins and NUMEROUS LOCAL CONTRACTORS transformed a historic building otherwise seemingly destined for demolition into an extraordinary new home for innovative cultural experiences. The building contains three apartments, several art galleries, a speakeasy, and a cathedral-like performance and event space.

MUSIC

MUSIC @ THE MILL

The LISTENING GALLERY is A 2,000 square foot space where genre doesn’t exist. Towering up to 23 Foot Ceilings, The room Was Designed with rough-sawn wood paneled walls in a psychedelic-leaning herringbone pattern to create a warm and welcoming Space where one can let go of preconceived notions about Music and just listen. It will Soon be home to a luminous stained glass window designed by renowned painter & public artist Amy Ellingson along with a majestic, faceted and back-illuminated polypropylene sculpture Which was created on site by artist Stephen Hendee. Enveloping the audience in light and color, the room exudes concert hall acoustics while Retaining the feeling of an intimate Gathering. 

The LISTENING GALLERY’s music programming is curated by The Mill’s creative director, musician Taylor Haskins, who began his career as a performing artist at the age of 19. He has since toured the globe and recorded with many legendary Musicians SUCH AS Maynard Ferguson, Nels Cline, Richard Bona, and Dave Holland, with whom Haskins was awarded a Grammy™ in 2005. He has released 11 albums under his name, and is also an accomplished composer of music for television and film. From 2014 to 2017 Haskins curated Soundwaves in Ballard Park, inviting musicians such as Anais Mitchell, Colin Stetson, Brandee Younger, and Julian Lage, who drew people to Westport from far and wide, and who have all since added Grammy™ and Tony™ awards to their names. In 2020, Taylor became the host of The Thread, curating a weekly radio program broadcast on North Country Public Radio (NCPR) that weaves listeners through the mosaic of Black American Music and all that it influences, celebrating the bleeding edge of new music releases in this category. Taylor brings his deep knowledge and extensive experience in music to inhabit The Mill’s extraordinary GREAT ROOM with an inspiring progressive musical performance program.

ART

ART @ THE MILL

Process Art Space is The Mill’s curated exhibition program comprising five unique galleries of varying sizes and site-specific commissioned installations. Curated by Catherine Ross Haskins, the program highlights the importance of process to innovation. Paintings in the galleries by mid-career and well established contemporary artists serve as a focal point when accompanied by a selection of exploratory drawings or prints from the artist. Site-specific installations integrated into the building provide invited artists the opportunity to expand their practice while transforming the existing architecture into an unexpected immersive experience.

Each of the exhibiting artists in the 2024-25 curated program were selected to bring new light into an old building. While not inherently the focus of all the work, a luminescence or levity can be found everywhere.

Catherine received her BA from Dartmouth College in studio art, attended Skowhegan School of Painting & Sculpture in 2002 and was a recipient of the Marie Walsh Sharpe Foundation Space Program in 2005. From 1998 to 2015 her video work was presented continuously in exhibitions & festivals internationally. Venues included PS1 Museum and Reina Sofia Museum, with solo exhibitions at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design and New Britain Museum. 

The KNock

THe Knock @ THE MILL

The Knock is The Mill’s 21st-century speakeasy; notoriously the “worst-kept secret in town”. Tucked away inside of a historic building, The Knock harkens back to a time in American history when secret rhythmic codes and whispered passwords granted entry into mysterious and elusive liquor establishments during prohibition. Once visitors discover The Knock, on entering they will pause and sigh deeply as they take in the scene: the sultry mood of warm lighting, brass, wood, and period music. We offer beverages for ombibulous patrons and teetotalers alike; classic cocktails and inventive new concoctions alongside a menu of delicious small plates. The ingredients we use in our little kitchen are for the most part “hyper-local”, so we are able to proudly showcase an incredible array of locally-produced food in our region. All of our food is prepared fresh in-house. A screen-free establishment, The Knock is a place where guests are encouraged to enjoy quiet conversations and share in a momentary respite from the outside world. It’s the cat’s pajamas!