Local artists will have mini-gallery open soon

Local artists and craft makers have expressed support for a proposed Alleghany Cultural Arts Center. Some of them plan to open a "mini-gallery," a forerunner of the future center, early next month.

Artist Tom Berry of Laurel Springs, a leader of the center effort, said the mini-gallery will be located in Trojan Village Shopping Center next to the video store. "We hope to put in the displays next week," Berry said Monday. "The following week we'll bring in the works of art and see how it goes." About 12 people participated in a cleanup day earlier this month.

The shop will serve as a small gallery to sell art works, he explained, as well as a base for promoting the future cultural arts center. In fact, the mini-gallery represents a bit of a shift of focus. Before a Feb. 13 meeting of interested artists, discussions about a possible center concentrated on the Smithey's building (most recently the home of the Blue Ridge Plaza) as the potential location.

The group still envisions Smithey's as the eventual site of the arts center. However, Berry told the meeting, "In the beginning we have to start small and lay a foundation."

About 40 people attended that meeting. "It was a real strong show, and I thought people were very enthusiastic," he commented. "We accomplished the purpose to show support and let the town know we had the people."

Survey Response

Questionnaire forms were distributed to those attending. He said virtually all were returned. "Everything that I got was positive." Artists and crafts people were asked to characterize their level of interest, commitment and involvement in the proposed center. "With interest, everybody was 100 percent," said Berry. "Commitment was a little less, 80 to 90. Direct involvement floated from 50 to 70 or 75.

Get the rest of this article in this week's issue of the Alleghany News! Back