“My Life… In Knots” by Alp Basdogan – On display through January 3, 2026

Main Gallery

Current Exhibition

Artist Statement: 

“Love is Eternal. In this cycle, Old Becomes New. This is reflected in my Life and my Work. Both… My Loves.

I enjoy developing new, unique projects and supporting artists and craft makers around the globe in every way possible. I love my daughter, son, and wife. Welcome to my life… in knots. Thank you for being here.”

Biography:

Alp Basdogan was born into a prominent rug merchant family in Adana, Turkey. He studied at the University of Michigan before leaving to help his father’s business, and opened his first showroom in New York City in 1984. By 1988, he started production and realized that the rug market was struggling due to international trade and the rise of digital looms. To adapt, Alp infused traditional Turkish techniques with modern designs, using vegetable dyes and handspun wool.

By 1992, he expanded to a 6,000-square-foot showroom on 5th Avenue and was the first to use vintage rugs for upholstery. He opened several trade showrooms across the U.S. and received six Best Rug awards between 1994 and 2009. His patchwork designs gained fame, and he provided rugs for Broadway productions, showcasing a blend of old and new.

In 2003, Alp opened Depot 62 in Manchester, Vermont, a retail showroom with a café-bistro serving organic Southern Turkish cuisine. Since 2005, he has been a board member of the Oriental Rug Importers Association, helping to establish schools in developing weaving countries and collaborating with the Turkish government to preserve rug-weaving culture.

In addition to his business endeavors, Alp is passionate about teaching the importance of history and culture. He enjoys activities like racecar driving, scuba diving, and hiking, and in 2007, his family’s property was featured on The History Channel. In 2012, they launched Palatium on the property, a restaurant serving Southern Turkish cuisine, further blending tradition with modernity.

Lower Level Gallery

Pop-Up Exhibition

The Lost Ski Areas of Vermont by the Manchester Historical Society & the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum

You’re invited to explore a special pop-up exhibit in the lower gallery of the Manchester Community Library. This collaborative display between the Manchester Historical Society (MHS) and the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum (VTSSM) in Stowe highlights Vermont’s “lost” ski areas. 

For more than 20 years, VTSSM has been documenting Vermont’s “lost” ski areas. Their research has identified 190 closed ski areas and six that never opened. This exhibit features a selection of sites located south of Route 4, including #35: Snow Valley, which is highlighted here.

To learn more about Vermont’s lost ski areas, please visit vtssm.org or call 802-253-9911.

Youth Gallery

View the MCL Gallery Page for Gallery contact information and to read about other current and upcoming exhibitions.