Alcove teams up local artists

The circle keeps growing.
The idea of a local artists’ cooperative began to take shape last winter. Now, on the eve of the holiday season, The Alcove Artists’ Collective is making its debut with an exhibit at Arts Place.
When gourd artist Angela Reinhart approached the Jay County Chamber of Commerce about studio space, she had no idea what she would set in motion.
“It’s always been a dream in mind that (local artists) would create a co-op,” said Vicki Tague, chamber executive director.
Tague met first with Arts Place executive director Eric Rogers to make sure the notion of an artists’ cooperative dovetailed well with the Arts Place mission. “He gave it his blessing,” said Tague.
Using the Arts Place website, www.artsland.org, as a resource, the chamber began putting together a list of area painters, potters, wood turners, jewelry makers, photographers, crafters, and entertainers, coming up with almost 60 names.
Those people were invited to an initial meeting and reception at John Jay Center for Learning in the spring. About 30 attended.
“There seemed to be a great deal of interest,” said Tague.
Ideas were shared, and the group began to coalesce around the shared dream of artists working and exhibiting together.
Several of the artists exhibited at the Taste of Jay County event in October, and works by several are on display at Patriot Sweet Cakes in downtown Portland. “They’re looking at other spaces to do ‘pop-up’ galleries,” said Tague. “There will be others.”
In January, the group hopes to begin formalizing some structure. But earlier this month “Collective Imaginations: An Alcove Debut” was mounted at the Hugh N. Ronald Gallery at Arts Place.
It features works by Mark Twigg, Kyle Teeter, Steve McClung, Karly Sanderson, Tony Giltner, Leslie Newton, Barbara Stump, Becca James, Beth Wentz, Angela Reinhart, Kinsey Fennig, Stephanie Reynolds, Karen Breeden, Steve Zielinski, and others.
Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday. A meet-the-artists reception will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 1, and the exhibit will remain on display through Dec. 22.
The cooperative is not limited just to artists living in Jay County. Those interested in participating should contact the Jay County Chamber of Commerce. “We’re sort of acting as their support staff,” said Tague.
Activities at Arts Place are supported in part by The Portland Foundation.[[In-content Ad]]