Closing EWU downtown gallery creates an art opportunity

I recently received word that the Eastern Washington University Downtown Student Gallery will be closing soon. I understand that this is due to a lack of funding, not participation, therefore, I would like to make the following statement and suggestion for keeping the gallery doors open.

Since I moved here four years ago, I have participated in several Spokane art-fests.  While Spokane offers outlets for my art, I am more interested in bringing art into Cheney.

I have been in communication with some local artists as well as Doug LaBar, from The Mason Jar, who is a leading figure in the local art community, about getting a gallery opened in town. He and I have been discussing some possible locations, however, with the closing of the student gallery, it seems there’s a “ready-made” facility for a community gallery…and there are plenty of us citizen-artists interested in a more long-term showcase for our creations. So far, the Cheney library has been the only outlet.

While in California, I displayed, and sold my photographs in local galleries and art-events for several years. For all of those exhibits, including the Spokane events, I paid a fee to participate. The gallery fees were based on the amount of wall-space desired and the length of time the artist’s wanted to display their work; for weekend-type events, one generally pays a set fee.

My point is that, as many artists who show their work, I am accustomed to paying a fee.  Therefore, my solution to keeping the underfunded student gallery open is — allow the public to display their art on a more regular basis than just a one-per-year “invitation” exhibit; charge a reasonable fee and allow artists, like myself, to keep their pieces in the gallery for as long as they’re willing to pay the established fee.

Gunther Zarth

Cheney