A downtown storefront that served as a stepping stone for local
artists to display their jewelry works, paintings and photos will
close Sunday due to a decline in business. Members of Gallery
Morgan Hill, a 16-year-old cooperative art showplace, said the
gallery’s closing will limit local and near-by artists
opportunities to display and sale original art work in the
community.
Morgan Hill – A downtown storefront that served as a stepping stone for local artists to display their jewelry works, paintings and photos will close Sunday due to a decline in business.
Members of Gallery Morgan Hill, a 16-year-old cooperative art showplace, said the gallery’s closing will limit local and near-by artists opportunities to display and sale original art work in the community.
Mary Hiller, the gallery’s co-director, said construction near the gallery’s current location on Depot Street hampered customer attraction. Hiller said the gallery moved from its former downtown location to the Granary in 2006 for an affordable rent cost.
But the move turned out to be detrimental to the gallery’s foot traffic. Lack of parking spaces and disassembled sidewalks and streets led to the gallery’s demise, Hiller said.
“The business dropped off to the point where we can’t stay open any longer,” she said. “Having this gallery allowed artists a place to display their work. All that is lost to the community. It will definitely have a cultural impact.”
For the same reason her colleagues became members, Hiller said she joined the gallery in 1995 because it provided a place for her to display her original artwork.
The Morgan Hill City Council gave the struggling group $4,800 in financial assistance for rent, marketing and other operational expenses after the group had given notice to Granary owners and co-tenants Charles Weston and Lesley Miles.
“Everybody is very sad because it has been a very productive and happy relationship among the artists,” Hiller said of the gallery’s current 14 members.
Lorna Saiki, who is also co-director, said the gallery’s presence in the community will be missed.
“It’s sort of a nostalgic for the community,” she said explaining the its presence. Art workshops, classes, contests and shows will be no more, Saiki added, leaving a creative void in the community.
“This has been sort of a gathering place for artists,” Saiki said. “You could come in and there would be somebody for you to talk to. Now we don’t have a place to go.”
The gallery will continue to sale and rent art creations with an art rental business, “Art Works”. Saiki said the business is set to open in October and several members will work from their homes, selling and renting original artwork to local businesses.
“We’re still gonna exist. The rental business is going to be our primary focus,” she said.
When asked if members would re-open another art displaying gallery in the future, Karen Garnett, founding director and current treasurer, said she is optimistic.
“We’ll keep our eyes and hears open and investigate our options,” she said.
