The Rural We: Dave Hattem

What do you do with an empty space in a building you’ve just renovated? If you’re Dave Hattem, you turn it into a popup art gallery. The former corporate attorney rescued a former auto service center on Route 23 in Monterey, cleaned it up, and wondered what he could do with one of the bays that would be interesting and enjoyable. He came up with the idea of a gallery, now Gallerie 271. “There are so many talented, artistic people in the Berkshires and Hudson Valley, it’s almost incredible,” he says. “I’m kind of loving meeting people from the art world and giving them a platform to express themselves and have some fun.”

My wife and I live on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and have been second homeowners in Great Barrington for close to 20 years. We love the Berkshires for the usual reasons: culture, community, and nature.

I stopped working full time as the General Counsel of a large NYC corporation at the end of 2021. In the Fall of 2021 I was open to new adventures and coincidentally saw a “for sale” sign on the old John’s Auto Repair shop in Monterey. It’s on a lovely country road and next door to the old Roadside Cafe. The building looked very sad but I thought it had potential as a project.

I started a soup-to-nuts renovation in the winter of 2022. The local community loved the transformation of this former eyesore and would regularly pop by to ask what was going on and my plans for the building. For me, it was a great way to meet and get to know my neighbors. 

I had planned on using part of the building as a “clubhouse” and place to keep my classic car, motorcycle and vintage Vespa scooter.  I wasn’t sure what to do with the former “paint room” which had been used to repair auto collisions and had very interesting lighting.  

Once the “paint room” was spruced up and the many lights were working, it cried out for some type of installation space and hence the idea of a pop-up art gallery.

I did a test run last summer with Great Barrington artist/architect/musician Steve Dietemann and it was a great success and lots of fun. Locals, friends, weekenders, visitors and artists loved the space and vibe. Our exhibition closing with Steve’s band felt like a party and the place to be on scenic Route 23.

This summer, I have lined up more exhibitions beginning with Adi Oren who works out of the Catskills and NYC on July 4th weekend. I’m hoping Gallerie 271 will be the pop-up gallery that brings together arts, the community and travelers for a different and fun art experience