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Morgan Wall/The News
Park Art IV offers a number of pieces for sale including these painted chairs serving as planters Saturday.
However, this year’s event was special because it is the first one since the organization set up a gallery in the house to display student work as well as a feature artist in addition to the studio on West Pine Street.
“I can’t say enough about how the Gilmer-Smith Foundation has helped fulfill our dream. Before, they gave us the opportunity to have Park Art on the grounds, and now they’ve opened their doors for us literally by letting us open this house,” said Donna Jackson, Gallery Group director. “It’s just been a beautiful marriage. It’s just been amazing.”
Park Art is a chance for students of the Gallery Group, mentally- or physically-handicapped individuals who are 21 years of age or older, to display their artwork and a chance for community members to take a piece home. It is a fundraiser for the organization with proceeds going to buy more supplies for the students.
“It gives us exposure,” said Jackson of Park Art. “There’s a lot of our special students you see here today. You can see the pride in their eyes at having their work on display and maybe selling it to someone. They know that the money is going to pay for more paint for the classes.”
Students painted everything from flower pots to chairs to old windows donated by Habitat for Humanity. The work was all set up in the back garden of the house which allowed enough space for people to browse the work or maybe even see how it would fit in their own yard.
In addition to student work, a few local artists had some work for sale during the event as well. Celeste Springthorpe Tsaklis is on the board for the Gallery Group but has been out of town for previous Park Art events.
“This is a way of reaching into the community especially since we just opened this space,” she said. “I think this is a good location for us.”
Paula R. Melton, who does watercolors, and Ronnie Williams, a potter, set up displays of their work and then proceeded to get right down to business with new pieces. Melton sat under a tent where her watercolors were on display in the front yard of the house and worked on new pieces, pausing to talk to people as they walked by. Williams set up his pottery wheel in the back of the house and gave demonstrations throughout the day.
“I’m a potter here at the house and I came today to become acquainted with the community and support this program,” said Williams. “I think it is (a good thing). It provides an opportunity for people who may not have an opportunity anywhere else.”
“This works because of the concern of our artists. If it weren’t for the volunteers and artists who pitch in this wouldn’t happen,” said Jackson. “We’re proof that a grassroots organization that starts with an idea can grow to something that’s phenomenal. We’re an extreme example of service to humanity.”
The gallery at the Robert Smith House is open Wednesday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 to 4 p.m. The studio on West Pine Street is open Tuesdays 2 to 5 p.m., Wednesdays 1 to 3 p.m. and 4-5 p.m. and Thursdays noon to 2 p.m. and 3 to 5 p.m.
Contact Morgan Wall at mwall@mtairynews.com or 719-1929.
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