July 27, 2007
Bainbridge-- Joyce Causey, a long time basket weaver, and gourd maker has tried various arenas for displaying her art. "I've gone to several festivals and displayed, I've been able to display in some businesses." She says now that the art co-op she's a part of opened this gallery, she has a central place where she always can exhibit her art.
It's a priceless opportunity not always available to many artists. "It also gives experience of people who have art and have no where to show it. Just small artists, unknown it gives them the ability to get it out in the open and sell it," says co-op member George Curtis.
Formed by diverse artists from a 14 county region, the co-op was started about a year and a half ago. They'd been looking for a place to house their gallery, and they found the perfect home in the newly refurbished Firehouse Center and gallery in Bainbridge. Co-op member Janice Rentz says of the facility, "it's wonderful. We have a place not only to exhibit but to teach perhaps. Just do lots of things."
"It not only gives us an outlet for art but it will also hopefully bring some economic development to the area, " adds Causey. The artists hope the presence of their gallery will encourage art appreciation in the area, and maybe even inspire young, up and coming artists. "
"I hope that they get to see fine art, as they might not have seen before, represented by a number of different people," says Rentz. "Hopefully we'll have some young people come in and become interested in doing some of the same media that we do," says Causey.
And maybe one day even set up a gallery of their very own. The gallery is open Thursday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. every week, and its free to the public.
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