The artists of Gallery Morgan Hill hope moving their work from
the moribund Downtown Mall to the refurbished Granary Building will
signal the start of a renaissance in the city’s core.
Morgan Hill – The artists of Gallery Morgan Hill hope moving their work from the moribund Downtown Mall to the refurbished Granary Building will signal the start of a renaissance in the city’s core.
“The Granary will give the gallery that much needed visibility for people driving by or walking by,” said co-director Lorna Saiki. “A very common remark from customers is that they never knew we existed.”
The Downtown Mall, which will be leveled in favor of new retail and living space in the next few years, has lost many tenants recently, including two antique stores that attracted customers with an interest in art.
The new Granary Building is the first of many new projects on Depot Street, where there are plans for street and pedestrian improvements, as well as a new retail-residential complex at the corner of Third Street and the new Santa Clara County Courthouse rising across the railroad tracks on Butterfield Boulevard.
Saiki said that Morgan Hill commuters who ride Caltrain, and residents who visit the weekend farmers’ market will see an inviting space.
“The building has been restored in a beautiful way with high terra cotta walls, original brick floors, and great natural light,” she said “However, our best advertisement is the gallery at night. It can be compared to looking into someone’s house with all the lights on enabling the viewer to see all the beautiful artwork inside.”
Gallery Morgan Hill opened in 1991 and is funded through the dues of its 15 members.
“We know how to just scrape by Saiki said. “If it wasn’t for our members, we would have been dead long ago.”
Grand opening
The Grand Opening of the new Gallery Morgan Hill is from 2-4pm, Sunday, April 9, at the Granary, 17490 Depot St.
There will be a reception and awards ceremony for the Open Juried Show featuring local artists competing in various media such as oil, watercolor, photography, sculpture and more.
For information call: 408-779-6737
