By Mary Vinnedge
The Galveston Art League invites anyone who enjoys visual artwork to celebrate the grand expansion of its gallery from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Friday, March 15. The party will begin with a Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony at the gallery, 2117A and 2119A Postoffice St. in downtown Galveston.
In early 2018, the Art League purchased the gallery at 2119A. During months of construction, workers created a passageway into 2117A; upgraded the electrical, cooling, heating, and lighting systems; installed flood-proof flooring; and painted. Finally the dust has settled, literally, so that the Galveston Art League can show off the new gallery.
The nonprofit organization’s volunteers have decorated the twin galleries with dozens of pieces of artwork by local artists for the debut. Guests will be offered refreshments and may take self-guided tours of the two spaces that exhibit and sell paintings, jewelry, and 3-D pieces such as sculpture, pottery, and dolls. The larger gallery also has a retail area selling T-shirts, books, and other items relating to Galveston’s rich art history.
The expansion is a big step for the Galveston Art League, which was founded with the purpose of promoting the visual arts and art education in the Galveston County area and beyond. For more than a century, the league has held low-cost art workshops, children’s classes, membership shows, and juried competitions (open to nonmembers and members) while promoting the careers of local artists.
Two other milestones in the organization’s history are the leasing of the 2117A Postoffice gallery in April 2004 and the purchase of the site in 2008. Five months later, Hurricane Ike inundated the gallery with 8 feet of water, a total loss that prompted rebuilding the next year.
In 2014, the Art League’s 100th anniversary, the group held its first fundraiser gala, an evening of fine dining with live music, auctions, and conversation with art and civic leaders. The Art League depends on support largely from the annual gala, contributions, and membership fees.
Memberships, which start at $10 for students and $35 for provide several benefits individuals (details: click on the Join tab at GalvestonArtLeague.com). For example, members are the first to receive emails announcing the league’s low-cost workshops, and they’re invited to monthly preview parties of new exhibits. Professional-level members can participate in the gallery’s Featured Artist program, with a large display of their artworks offered for sale.
Members who volunteer with the league for six or more hours every two months are entitled to half off their fees for the league’s nine member shows per year. All members receive discounted entry fees for the league’s juried competitions.
To learn more about the Galveston Art League, membership levels, and volunteer opportunities, please visit GalvestonArtLeague.com or email gallery2117@gmail.com.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Mary Vinnedge, a pastels artist, serves on the Galveston Art League Board. She has lived on the island since 2015.
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