“It can’t be done!” “It won’t work!” “Ha!” Seven local artists heard those words as a challenge to create a cooperative art gallery in downtown S. Joseph. And now, after many weeks of struggling, hard work, working around obstacles, obtaining permits and licenses, they’re only days away from a planned grand opening. 

The founding members were all members of the Allied Arts Council Visual Arts Committee. Given the charge to investigate the feasibility of establishing a cooperative gallery in

“A cooperative gallery here in town has been a dream of many of us for a long time,” said Cheryl Simonis, newly elected chairperson of the gallery board of directors. “The response to our inquiry was heart-warming and encouraging. It soon became clear that the gallery should be created independently of the AAC.”  

It was an amicable decision of both the Allied Arts Council and the committee members who were to become the board of directors.  

“It’s been a rocky road at times,” Simonis said. “But now we have a name–Gallery 7–and have established ourselves as an operational entity. If, at a later date, we wish to come under the Arts Council umbrella we can do that.” 

Now the gallery has a space for business–

–and all needed licenses and legal work are in place. 

“And we have our slate of founding members.” Simonis said.

Exhibiting members of the gallery were chosen from area artists who submitted samples of their work to be juried by the board of directors. Those selected are Joshua Hamilton, Cynthia Barber, Lelia Hicks, Kerry Wood, Rebecca Dew, Evelyn Jordan-Isaacs, Dave Garrison and Mary Korneman. Board of directors members will also be exhibiting artists. In addition to Cheryl Simonis, they are Wanda Taylor, Brenda Reilly, Jerome Hernandez, Jim Fly and Ila Dell Youngblood. 

“We’re so happy to welcome the eight new members to Gallery 7,” Simonis said. “We have lots of work to do before our opening–painting, getting lighting installed and getting furnishings in place as well as hanging and displaying the art work.”At this time the opening is being planned for the third week in June. 

“We have lots of plans and ideas for the gallery to serve both artists and the community,” she said. “Right now, our main objective is to get Gallery 7 open and running. Then we’ll start planning workshops and other activities involving the children and adults of

“Many people have commented that this is a long-overdue institution. We can never properly thank all the wonderful people who have supported us with their time, donations of goods, materials, space and encouragement. We are going to try our hardest to make Gallery 7 something all of

“We are determined to prove that it can and will work and serve the artistic needs of this area.” Simonis concluded. 

by Erin Eddins

Last summer upon invitation of my mother-in-law I attended a luncheon for Second Harvest. I did not know much about Second Harvest other than the fact that my mother-in-law did a lot of volunteering there. Still I agreed to go and share the lunch hour with her and some of her ladies from church. What would we be having at this luncheon? Soup.

The luncheon was the annual event that Second Harvest calls Empty Bowls. In the hour that I spent visiting not only with the kind people at my table but with all of the business and political folks that filled the banquet hall, I ate nearly 10 bowls of soup. My defense is two-fold: first, the bowls are sample size and second, those were the best soups I have ever eaten.

Local restaurants had come together in a cooking competition…may the best soup win. And boy, did it ever. After flavorful chowders, velvety bisques and a spicy gumbo, a tablemate of mine insisted I find and try the Rueben Soup. Was she out of her mind or just of poor sight? I had eight empty bowls in front of me already. With great effort I lifted my rounding self from the table and sought out the Rueben. (Full story)