It was a sad day at the Town Center Gallery as artists filtered in and out of the space, taking their artwork down and packing boxes.
On June 13, the walls were bare at the rent-free venue where local painters, sculptors, and other artisits have displayed their work for the last three years. A group of artists and board members lingered in the empty room, discussing options for a new gallery that would suit their needs.
Mall management informed the nonprofit the week of June 9 that new owners have plans that require the space. The gallery was given just a few days to vacate, shocking both the board members and artist members.
Hattie Stoddard, former president of the board of directors of the gallery, said that she understands the situation the mall is in and appreciates the time the gallery had in that location.
“We are very grateful for the three years that we were able to be in that wonderful space at the mall, rent-free,” Stoddard said.
For now, the mall has offered the gallery a smaller spot near its former location on the upper level, to house some of the art. A second space on the upper level was offered as a room to hold art classes that were previously held in the gallery.
“We are taking the smaller space for a while, and hopefully it will work out,” Stoddard said. “Since our name is Town Center Gallery, we’d like to stay in the Town Center.”
The mall’s general manager, Patricia Hilliard, said that the Town Center Gallery wasn’t the only tenant that had to move.
“We are preparing for actual new construction coming up. In order to facilitate that, I’ve got to move some people around, and [the Town Center Gallery] is one of them,” Hilliard said.
Hilliard said that the gallery doesn’t need to leave the mall, just its location.
“We want them here. We’re very interested in having them here,” she said.
Though they will miss their original spot, gallery board members said that they’re pleased with the efforts of mall management to keep the gallery around.
“We went from shock to surprise,” board member Cathy Gregg said about the move and later offer of a temporary replacement location.
The Town Center Gallery started in 1983, though it was known then as the Visual Arts Gallery and located at the Veteran’s Memorial Culture Center. A year later, the gallery was remodeled and the name changed to Culture Corner Gallery. In 2006, the gallery moved to the mall and underwent another name change, to Town Center Gallery. It incorporated as a nonprofit last year.
Since opening in the mall, the gallery has expanded from 30 artist members to its current 90, with an average of 60 to 70 artists per show.
The gallery gives out three scholarships each year and offers 20 art classes year-round. The space is home to the Santa Maria Arts Council’s meetings and the gallery’s artist receptions.
Artist Vora Souza said that keeping the Town Center Gallery intact is important to the cultural scene in Santa Maria.
“Cities like Lompoc have a [city] gallery,” Souza said. “We’d like to keep ours, because we’re the only one.”
Beth Ostapiuk, president of the board of directors of the Town Center Gallery, acknowledged that there will be some challenges in relocating and keeping the gallery going, but she remains optimistic about the future of the gallery and the generosity of the community.
“Maybe it’s a sign of something bigger and better in the future,” Ostapiuk said.
Art Editor Shelly Cone always hopes for a bigger and better future. E-mail her at scone@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Jun 19-26, 2008.