With cancer and relocation, community rallies for printmaker

BRATTLEBORO — Dan Chiaccio, owner of First Proof Press, learned he had Stage Four Hodgkin's lymphoma in July. 

"It kind of came out of nowhere," he said. "I've been dealing with that. I'm still working." 

Doctors tell him he has a high likelihood of surviving the cancer. He said he's "luckily being treated" at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. 

Chiaccio, 32, of Guilford, expects to be cancer free in about six months. He started chemotherapy in mid-September. 

"It's a long journey," he said. 

Chiaccio described the days where he gets chemotherapy as being "bad" then the following three to four days are "rough." He said he's glad to be able to make it back to do what he loves at his printmaking studio afterwards. 

The treatments come at a time when Chiaccio is closing up the shop for the month of November. He's moving to a unit on High Street below HatchSpace, where he will be a tenant along with the Vermont Center for Photography, Gravitate Pinball, A Vermont Table and Wheelhouse Clay Center. 

Cancer treatments aren't cheap, and Chiaccio wants to ensure his move goes smoothly and programming continues, so he set up a fundraiser. According to the most recent tally, $34,175 has been raised by 424 donors at gofundme.com/f/j38ba8-dans-cancer-fund.

"Surprisingly, a lot of people don't want me to die," Chiaccio said, never expecting to get close to a goal he set at $50,000. "People really came out of the woodwork to help with that." 

Chiaccio said the new space is roughly the same size as his current studio below Mitchell Giddings Fine Arts on Main Street. His main reason for moving is visibility. 

"We were in the basement for about three years," he said. "People would say, 'I lived in Brattleboro my whole life. I didn't know you guys were here.'"

First Proof Press is a community based studio dedicated to the many forms of fine art printmaking. Offerings include contract printing, classroom and event space, workshops and individualized instruction, and one-day studio rentals.

Since retail is a bigger component of his business than initially anticipated, Chiaccio said he wants to have "a prominent place" to sell products. He also expects to collaborate. 

"Our plan is to have joint workshops," he said, noting the potential for "a lot of crossover" in artistic mediums between tenants in the HatchSpace building. 

Chiaccio noted the studio will be next to the large mural he helped create on High Street with refugee artists. 

First Proof Press had a soft opening in January 2020, offering a couple of classes. Chiaccio said he held a big opening in March 2020 then two weeks later came the COVID-19 shutdown. 

Operating mostly during a pandemic and now dealing with cancer, he's had his share of challenges. 

"It's been pretty crazy," he said. "I'm hoping the next three years are a little more chill. I think I've paid my dues at this point." 

First Proof Press is slated to reopen in December. New members are welcome. Workshops will be hosted in the space. 

"We are very much open to pubic," Chiaccio said. "You don't need to be a printmaker or have all these skills to take a class." 

First Proof Press has collaborated with Epsilon Spires, Downtown Brattleboro Alliance, Boys & Girls Club of Brattleboro, Youth Services, HatchSpace, Brattleboro Literary Festival, Gallery Walk, Brattleboro Flea, Brattleboro Museum & Arts Center, Yalla and other businesses. Chiaccio also teaches at Community College of Vermont. 

"It was a pleasure to work with Dan on several collaborations, including the High Street Mural project, and empowering to experience his tenacity and hard work to transform and beautify our shared public space in downtown," said Jamie Mohr, executive director of Epsilon Spires. "Dan's boundless creativity and talent brighten up the world and inspire everyone who knows him. We as a community are so lucky to have him and First Proof Press be an important part of Brattleboro's cultural ecosystem."

Chiaccio's dream had been to open a print shop. 

"Brattleboro seemed like a really good fit," he said. "Everyone I have worked with has been great. It seems most people have more projects to do. There's just a need for it in town." 

Chiaccio said the new space is "exciting," as there are talks of having a cafe out front and a retail space at the building. He expects to have a grand opening at some point in the future. He'll be posting a class schedule in December. 

"Dan Chiaccio, First Proof, and its members will bring a daily energy and creative life to High Street & Green," Tom Bodett, owner of High Street & Green and founder of HatchSpace, said. "HatchSpace has collaborated with Dan on classes in the past and both outfits look forward to many happy returns."

Bodett called Chiaccio's energy and passion for the First Proof Press project on top of his health issues "inspiring."

"We’ll do all we can to see this through, because we know he will too," Bodett said.