Gilroy Arts Alliance
Art at the Center

Gilroy ArtsAlliance is hosting their first art exhibit at the Center for the Arts this August. This is a really big deal for the local supporters of the arts. They have been working for a center for years. Just when it seemed it would happen, the economy took a dive and there was no money available for the long awaited art center. Then an opportunity to do something materialized. Last January the City of Gilroy agreed to let GAA take possession of the old Salvation Army thrift store on the corner of Monterey and Seventh Sts. It sits on land purchased by the city as the site of the future center. The building was to be demolished but that also costs quite a bit. So there it was, big and empty and looking like a potential interim art center to the GAA board. They started meeting on a regular basis and came up with a plan to remodel the building and put it to use until the economy improves and Gilroy can build their long awaited center. Volunteers spent hours cleaning out the building. A plumber came in to fix up the bathrooms and an electrician to check all the wiring and make sure everything was working properly. It wasn’t, but after a few days the center was proclaimed safe to use and even has air conditioning. The walls and ceiling had to be painted, new linoleum replaced the old in the shipping room and the bathrooms and all the old shelves taken down. Flowers were planted in the front and the whole building and sidewalk were powerwashed. With replacing floors being such a huge expense, GAA decided to just give them a good cleaning and add a little donated carpet.

So much has been done through donations and volunteer labor that could not have been done on the budget available. As they prepare for the art show they are anxiously anticipating new granite counters for the concessions, also a donation. The gravel needs to be spread in the front courtyard and the pots and trees delivered. A long wooden bench will have to be built to cover a bad stretch of concrete next to the building and exterior lights need to be installed. The building is still missing baseboards for the main room and some interior walls. The drapes for all the windows are not done yet, fabric can be a little pricey.

In spite of all that still needs to be done, GAA intends to host their first art show in style. The exhibit will be open to the public from 2pm to 5:30pm August 1st thru 10th. There will be a reception for all the artists on August 7th from 10am to 5:30pm. You are invited to come early and catch The Amazing Dr. Zarcon’s Breathing Machine, a wonderful  old-time jug band with washboard and all, including Donna Federico singing some great old Bessy Smith blues and even a rousing version of Minnie the Moocher, will start the day off at 10am and perform until 11:30am. As of our press date, the following local artists are scheduled to display their art:

Jack Foley - paintings
Beldon Gelff - geometric sculpture
Nader Khaghani - paintings
Scott Lance - photographs & paintings
Paul Loughridge - robot sculptures
Whitney Pintello McClelland - paintings
Carol Peters - paintings
Jane Rekedal - ceramic sculptures & vessels
Kurt Lane Ross - ceramics & pottery
Richard Starks - welded steel sculpture
Satu Viitanen - paintings & photographs
Diane Wallace – paintings

There will be cookies and lemonade and music throughout the day. Please stop by the art center for the reception and support both the artists on display and the volunteers and donors who are making it possible to have art shows in downtown Gilroy. Find out what is up next for the arts and be sure to come back in a couple of months when the artisans gift shop is ready to roll and more parts of the center have been put together.