Mission and Vision
Established in 2017, Eyevee , Inc. (IV, or Inlet Valley Arts Center) is an artist-run non-profit organization. Located on the Cortright Electric property at 653 Elmira Rd in the scenic Inlet Valley region of Ithaca, New York, IV seeks to enhance the culture and vitality of Tompkins County by bringing contemporary art, fine crafts, and innovative programming to the region.
Eyevee provides direct support to artists through a diverse range of programs, including residencies, exhibitions, audio/visual performances, readings, landscape + gardening initiatives, publications, and workshops. We are proud stewards of the land and of the creative process, focusing on the journey from initial inspiration to preparation, insight and realization. Our studio-based educational workshops offer life-long learners the unique opportunity to benefit from intensive instruction and work alongside nationally and internationally-recognized artists, fostering an environment where established and emerging creators can learn from each other and broaden their perspectives. Creativity thrives here through new experiences in our inspiring natural setting, providing fresh insights, respite from routine, and opportunities for profound transformation.
A core goal of IV’s programs, especially our two-to-four-week artist residencies, is to provide artists with access to a unique, expansive environment in which to experiment and develop ideas without the pressure of resolved outcomes. Through curated exhibitions, multi-arts events, native landscaping, and artistic research, we work to preserve space for the artistic process and its outputs. This work fosters discourse in relation to place and community, while also gaining new insights into pedagogy, ecology, and technology. IV views the role of art in society as a crucial social science, at the forefront of new ideas. We are firmly committed to inclusion, diversity, and equity, and we honor the rich tradition of the arts by continually experimenting with new techniques and materials in pursuit of artistic, professional, and personal growth.
History and Current Activity
Founded in 2017 and officially established as a 501(c)(3) in 2019, Eyevee is a non-profit arts organization dedicated to experimental, media, and interactive art. After nearly a decade of monthly programming and artist residencies hosted at the Grayhaven Motel, Eyevee is currently transitioning to its permanent home at the former Cortright Electric property at 653 Elmira Rd. Now operating with a 50-year lease, the new IV Gallery House and Hot Point Press Coop print shop serve as the foundation for a complete art center, providing a dedicated space for community experimentation, electronic art, and creative innovation in the Inlet Valley.
Reflecting the evolution of the Inlet Valley as a whole, the Cortright Electric property began its story as a local farm. When farming became unsustainable, the owners shifted their focus and established a locally owned and run electric company. Cortright Electric thrived for more than 30 years before closing, and the then property lay abandoned for more than a decade. In 2023, the owners of Grayhaven Motel purchased the property from foreclosure and began the process of stabilizing the buildings and collaborating with county and state park systems to preserve the valley for future generations. Today, the Cortright Electric property is home to IV Gallery House and Hot Point Press Coop print shop.
At the southern tip of Cayuga Lake, Ithaca’s Inlet Valley has witnessed a profound transformation over the past century, mirroring broader shifts in American landscape and commerce. At the dawn of the 20th century, this fertile valley floor thrived as a quintessential farming community, sustaining local families and feeding a growing town. As the automobile gained prominence and tourism boomed in the 1930s, the valley evolved dramatically, becoming a bustling hub of small motels and family-run businesses strung along a local highway. This strategic positioning funneled eager tourists towards the region’s renowned state parks, Buttermilk Falls and Robert H. Treman, ushering in a golden age of roadside Americana and a vibrant array of independent lodgings that persisted through much of the 20th century. However, the 21st century has ushered in another dramatic change; the valley’s character has shifted once more, morphing into a homogenous industrial and commercial corridor now largely defined by strip malls and a proliferation of chain businesses, a testament to the pervasive forces of commercial standardization. This rich, layered history of changing land use and community identity offers a compelling backdrop for artistic exploration and reflection within the Inlet Valley today.