SEPTEMBER 2013


Gallery Artists Imagine Gather To Look Ahead Artists to suggest new programs with grant from the Virginia Commission for the Arts


stopped by to have a look. They came to view art, attend exhibits as well as pick up brochures and flyers about other places to shop or events to attend in and around Berryville,” she said. Even more significant, almost 2,000 of them made a purchase, putting coins into more than 50 artists’ pockets, contributing a small but meaningful amount of revenue to the county coffers.


Artists Pam Singer and Lil Ledford mug for the camera before sitting down to do some serious brainstorming at the Fire House Gallery, September 5th.


and sell their work through Berryville Main


Twenty of the 50+ artists who show Street’s Fire House Gallery


gathered at the gallery on September 5 for something gallery director Kate Petranech calls, “a very pleasant task.” The group is exploring ideas for new events and activities promoting


art


and artists in Berryville, made possible by a $5,000 grant from the Virginia Commission for the Arts and


the


National Endowment for the Arts. This is the third consecutive year


that Berryville Main Street received the grant, demonstrating the funders’ satisfaction with the quality and variety of its programs which include: Solo Artist Exhibits, such as last year’s highly


praised Wood-Turning


Wonder: Robert Van Meter, a homage to the late master wood-turner’s life and work.


Group Artist Shows like Fabulous


Fibers for All. Featuring the work of a dozen-plus fiber artists, this show was so well received it will be an “evergreen” or staple in the gallery’s annual offerings. Indeed, the 2nd Annual Fabulous Fibers for All exhibit opens on October 18 with a special reception from six to eight p.m. Art Awareness


as the widely publicized


Endeavors such 2011 and


2012 Community Supported Art (CSA)


program. This novel initiative—modeled after


one created to promote the


purchase of local fruits and vegetables— encouraged people to buy a “share” or basket of art.


Art Pays Dividends for Local Economies


While fostering appreciation as knowledge and for art


is both desirable and laudable, such


initiatives these bring


more than just a “pretty face” to a community. They can be economic engines


that drive


traffic and revenue to a town’s commercial center. That


kind


of promotion is the mission


of Berryville


Main Street, and a key reason BMS created the gallery. A quick look at the numbers suggests working.


it’s to Petranech,


According “Since


the Fire House Gallery doors opened in January


2010, close to 7,000 people have


Martinsburg 304-267-7251


Online at www.orsinis.com Ranson 304-724-7251


Visit our Website for Offer Details:


WWW.ORSINIS.COM


Bigger and (Even) Better Ahead Petranech says three themes emerged from discussions September 5. • Increase offerings of current pro- grams to one or more each month. This is already off to a good start, says Petranech, with the gallery’s new “Little Shows,” small displays of a single artist’s work. The next one, fea- turing hand-built pottery by Neenja Jhaveri, November 1. In addition, the number of the Saturday Art of Making Art demonstrations will increase.


• Increase exposure with two new ex- hibits. Like the Robert Van Meter and fiber arts exhibit mentioned above, these are major endeavors that offer an in depth look at an artist, a me- dium, or a theme. Ideas presented at the September meeting include: By the Beautiful Sea, photography, water-


colors, fiber art, ceramics; From the Earth, wood, textiles, jewelry made from gemstones; Black and White, pho- tography, painting, glass, jewelry, ce- ramics.


• Increase traffic and revenue by rais- ing awareness about the gallery’s proud history, unique collection, and gifted artists. This will be done, says Petranech, through a reimagining of the gallery website. Funding will fi- nally allow the gallery to hire various professionals to shoot the collection for promotional purposes, conduct in- terviews with artists; and do an over- all audit to assess quality of content, visual appeal and ease of use.


“It’s an


Petranech. “But with funding available and


volunteers pitching


ambitious agenda,” in,


eminently doable. And a lot of fun to boot.”


Have a desire to work in the gallery?


On an exhibit? Behind the scenes? Check out your options by sending an email to info@firehousegallery.com. Put “Gallery Volunteer” in the subject line.


said it’s


21


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