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Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Artists' Co-Op


This storefront (the brick one) has been purchased by The Fragrant Mushroom here in Sparta and I'm very excited to be a part of the Artists' Co-op Gallery that will be going in here, right on main street in "downtown" Sparta, across from the courthouse.

An artist's co-op is a visual arts association jointly owned and democratically controlled by its members. A monthly membership fee buys space in the gallery, and there will also be available classroom space and studio space. Thor and Cheri, who own The Fragrant Mushroom (Thor makes wheel thrown pottery), have a vision for Sparta: to make it an artist-friendly town that draws tourism. They plan to hold classes to show other people how to do what they have done, so that all these other little buildings (many of which are vacant and getting somewhat run-down, but are quite old and charming) will eventually be galleries, making this a haven for Appalachian artists.

I hope it happens. My and Russ's daydream is to run a little bed and breakfast in this area ; I'd love to have it be one that focuses on creativity in some way, be it a gallery or workshops or both. That's a long way down the road, but one has to start somewhere.

So! At some point in June (date to be determined) my work will be exhibited here and I will do my part to bring art to my little town.

6 comments:

aspiritofsimplicity said...

It looks like a lovely downtown area with a lot of potential.

Theresa said...

Deanna that is brilliant!! Good luck with the co-op and the Bed and Breakfast.

Lenox Knits said...

How exciting. I hope the co-op takes off and gives you the opportunity to pursue all of your creative dreams.

SandyCarlson said...

I hope that co-op thrives. Beautiful.

Anonymous said...

Woah...Sparta where? If you're in Sparta, NJ, you've GOT to be kidding me--I LARP there all the time and haven't been around as much partly because I'm promoting a new LARP I'm involved with: http://www.seventhkingdomige.com

~Tara
Costumer/Merry Meet

Deanna Lack said...

Nope, Sparta Tennessee :)