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Photo
of the Historic Sutton Building taken in the late teens or early twenties.
A
Bit of History
The Association started 50 years ago !
The Emerald Art Association began in 1957 when a group of artists and
art lovers took on the task of building an art league. Beginning under
the auspices of the Willamalane Community Services, it soon became an
independent entity. In 1974 this diligent group bought their own building
at 421 A Street and shouldered the responsibility of owning real estate,
while presenting fine art to the community and becoming a center for teaching
and learning art.
The
current Art Gallery is new, yet has roots that reach back to 1909 when
it was the Sutton Block that later became the Gerlach Drug Store. By the
late 1990's the opportunity presented itself to purchase the Gerlach Building.
The non-profit art association had outgrown their original home and it
was time to create a new gallery to house its growing collection, to gain
space for more community interaction, to sponsor more artists' exhibits
and to work with childrens' interest in art. The result is Emerald Art
Center, the answer to a long-held vision.
The
Street Floor Gallery, which opened in April 2002, displays changing exhibitions,
important artist's shows and traveling shows when possible. We also display
children's exhibits of current work being accomplished through classes
at the Art Center and local schools.
The
Green Building
And
we are a "Green Building". On April 23, 2002 at the federal
Summit in Washington D.C., it was publicly announced that the Emerald
Art Center is a participant in a pilot program called LEED-EB, administered
by the US Green Building Council (USGBC). Participation in the program
puts the Emerald Art Center in a position of leadership in sustainable
building operation.
To
achieve this standing many environmental steps were taken. These include:
• Planting additional trees to help cool the building and its environs.
• Using water-based, low VOC stains and paints.
• refinishing original wood floors.
• Upcycling wood from high school bleachers into refinished doors
and window sash.
• Using special glass to help reduce heat gain and improve gallery
daylighting.
The
Emerald Art Center is proud to be doing our part to protect our fragile
environment.
The
Permanent Collection
Emerald
Art Center displays some fine examples of original art and sculpture in
its Permanent Collection. These art pieces, collected over the past 50
years, include donations by important art leaders who have taught here,
and several award winning works that were bought by EAC.
Emerald
Empire Art Association Officers for 2008
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Guy
Weese, 1st Vice President |
Diane Ronning , 2nd Vice President |
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Judith Mason-Macomber, Secretary |
Linda Kaye, Treasurer |
Cheryl
Leontina, Executive Director |
Board
of Directors
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Carol Plaia |
Steve Hill,
Past-President 2007 |
Shirley
Reade,
Past-President 2005-06 |
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Daryl Swan |
Ellen Sample |
Janet
Smith |
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Frank Light |
Dottie
Chase, Past President |
Marilyn
Stauber |
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Brooks Hickerson |
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Gladys Bacon-Rust |
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John Siwinski |
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Sue Banta, Gallery Coordinator |
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Community Liaisons & Directors at Large
1. Dan Dunnington, Smith Barney
2. Peter Fritch, President of the Springfield Museum Board of Directors
3. Gene Gill, National Artist
4. Judy Morris, National Artist
5. William Morrisette, Oregon State Senator
6. Dennis Murphy, Springfield Fire Chief
7. Patti Sanders, MacDonald Inc.
8. Stephen Spiedel, Media Arts Instructor, Springfield Academy of Arts and Academics (A3)
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