Walnut Gallery has reached an agreement with the Gadsden Cultural Arts Foundation to continue its unique contemporary art programming and workshops at the Mary G. Hardin Center for Cultural Arts, beginning this January.
As renovations continue at Walnut Gallery’s new permanent home at the former Christian Science Church on 806 Walnut Street, the Chan Exhibition Hall at the Center will serve as a temporary home for the Gallery’s exhibits. “The idea of temporarily housing the Walnut Gallery at the Hardin Center was first proposed by the Hardin Director, Bobby Welch, who upon learning of the non-renewal of our lease, immediately reached out to the gallery to help. We were so happy to accept the offer,” said Mario Gallardo, Walnut Gallery Executive Director. “There was a lot of pressure in not knowing how we would move forward, and realizing that we could continue to present our exhibition schedule in such a fine space put our minds at ease.”
The partnership with the Hardin Center is not new; in fact, the two organizations have been collaborating since 2009, with Walnut Gallery installing one to two exhibitions annually for the past several years. Most recently, artist Lori Larusso was an artist in residence at the Walnut Gallery while showing her work in the Chan Hall of the Hardin Center. The organizations are also partners in the Downtown Gadsden Public arts project that, to date, has installed three contemporary sculptures in Downtown Gadsden. More sculptures are planned to be installed in the next year, citywide, with assistance from the Alabama State Council on the Arts. The Council recently awarded Walnut Gallery a project grant to expand the public arts in Gadsden.
Walnut Gallery exhibits @ the Chan Exhibition Hall
Goodyear Installation
August 8 – September 26
Reception: August 15, 6 – 8 pm
Artists Mario Gallardo and Alan Curtis will create an installation, using rubber from the Gadsden Goodyear plant, that incorporates translucent tape casts of current and former Goodyear workers. The project begins in early 2014 with the creation of tape casts. Workshops and programming relating to the project will be ongoing.
Floating Worlds by Alberto Seveso
September 28 – December 30
Reception: October 17, 6-8pm
International designer and digital artist, Alberto Seveso will present 30 digital media prints ranging from his famous underwater still photography, to his imaginative digital media portraits.
Past Events
April 9 – July 31
Reception: Saturday, April 12, from 6-8 pm
Chinese Folk painter Mengjun Zhang will exhibit 40 original works ranging from traditional scroll paintings, oil paintings on canvas, Sumi drawings, and sculpture. The artist will offer hands on learning with programing for Imagination Place, and will conduct painting demonstrations for Gadsden State Community College Students.
January 13 – March 31
Reception: January 31, 6-8pm
Exhibit features 11-15 contemporary artists in photography, sculpture, painting, new media, installation art, ceramics, and printmaking. Several workshops will be offered in conjunction with the exhibition, including life-casting, and digital media production. (Image: “Legend of the Woman and the Cat” (Detail) by Dennis Sears)