“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

St. Joseph, they quickly found out, in a open public meeting and by talking with artists and others, that there was support in the community for such a venture. 

“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–

118 N. 7th St.

–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

St. Joseph. 

“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

St. Joseph will support with pride,” she said.

 

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

Posted by: admin on Wednesday, May 28th, 2008
Filed under: General |