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Associated Artists Gallery comes to an end in January

by andrea hahn, the southern

Sunday, December 17, 2006 7:43 AM CST

CARBONDALE - The Associated Artist Gallery, on the "Island" on South University in Carbondale, voted itself out of existence at its December meeting.

Photographer Bob Hageman tried to be optimistic as he described the events leading up to the announced demise of a 24-year-old Carbondale institution.

"Things happen for a reason," he said. "It will be interesting to see what happens next � I always like to think that change is energizing - that's part of my being positive."

The gallery was formed in 1983 as the Carbondale Artists Cooperative. It was located on South Illinois Avenue next to the Kaleidoscope gift shop, and in those early days, it was a functioning gallery. Hageman called it "a nest for new artists just learning to spread their wings."

The original mission, as Hageman described it, was to provide area artists with year 'round gallery space where they could exhibit their work alongside that of other artists. The advantage for a new artist, especially, he said was the feedback earned from public exhibition but without the stress and labor necessary to host a solo show.

Photographer Richard Lawson, charter member and one of the artists behind the development of the Southern Illinois Art Trail, predicts that as soon as the gallery closes, there will be a flood of disappointment. Yet, he said, the gallery is closing partly because it wasn't seeing significant visitor traffic.

"We've been here so long, I think people just expect us to be here," he said. "When we close, people will ask 'Why did you close?'"

The gallery was also seeing too much come-and-go traffic from the artists. Lawson said when the group first started, a core of members joined and stayed. Now that core is smaller, and there aren't new members willing to stay long enough to assume leadership of the gallery.

Hageman dates the beginning of the end - or anyway a change in mission - to the Island move some years ago. The flavor of the gallery changed, he said. It became more gift shop than gallery. The change signified a deeper change in the expectations of members. Making a living through art was more important to some of the new members than art for art's sake, Hageman said. He said it's a different philosophy that affects the way an artist presents his or her work.

"In the beginning, (the association) was a way to nurture artists, and I think we got away from that," he said. "There is nothing better an artist can do than to exhibit his or her work. An artist will learn and grow from the public's response as well as from their own (critical sense) of seeing a body of work exhibited � The gallery was built on a premise of sharing ideas and encouraging each artist to develop skills and a deeper knowledge of art in general as well as to provide the social and educational opportunity to the regional community."

Even so, the gallery still hosted exhibitions and themed art shows, although juried shows declined. But whether it was philosophy, dollars or just time to go for the gallery, the artists themselves intend to go on with their work and find new venues - maybe even a new association and new gallery.

Hageman said he hopes to see a symbiotic relationship develop between Southern Illinois wineries and Southern Illinois artists. There have already been steps taken in that direction, he said. And he, too, feels ready to take his art to some new venues and present it to eyes that haven't seen it before.

"I love the idea of art exhibitions at wineries," he said. "It makes so much sense to have a gallery and a winery. It would be like a double feature."

"There is a lot of interest in art," Lawson said. "The Art Trail is an attempt to get a regional identification for artists. Our gallery was part of the Art Trail."

Zoe Lightfoot, whose specialty is jewelry, said she already exhibits in other galleries as many of the artists do. Established artists, she said, like to get their work exhibited in other places so as not to saturate the market in their immediate area.

Lightfoot said she will miss the educational and social aspects of an established association of artists.

"I think it really encouraged people to try different things," she said.

"It's not the end for any of us," Lawson said. "It's just the end of the structure."

 

andrea.hahn@thesouthern.com

(618) 529-5454 ext. 5076