The Fort Malden Guild of Arts and Crafts, the board that operates the Gibson Gallery, held their annual general meeting where they looked back at what they believe was a successful 2024.
The meeting, held last Saturday afternoon, included president David Cozens outlining happenings over the past year. He said the 57th Art by the River drew over 10,000 people to the grounds of Fort Malden National Historic Site. Planning for that show started the previous November and ends the next October with a debriefing meeting.
“The revenue generated helps us keep the Gibson Gallery doors open,” he said.
Cozens thanked the almost 100 volunteers that help at Art by the River and “our very generous corporate sponsors.”
“We are also thankful to Fort Malden and their staff for their complete co-operation and assistance in hosting this event,” he said.
Another accomplishment was using their historic building at 140 Richmond St. to promote arts and crafts. There are five guilds that meet there on a regular basis and they had three other special events such as a trunk sale, the Amherstburg Art Crawl and a paranormal night.
“We have also increased the variety, quality and the number of our children and adult classes offered throughout the year,” he said. “I tip my hat to our very active and talented exhibit committee for the wide range of interesting and unique exhibits in 2024. It is my understanding they have 2025 already fully booked and are now working on 2026.”
The Artisan Gift Shoppe also continues to expand, he added.
Cozens pointed out two capital projects that took place in 2024, the first of which was the new LED digital sign at the road.
“For many years, the board has recognized that most of Amherstburg’s residents have never stepped foot into the gallery and many do not know it even exists,” he said.
After ten years of discussions and proposals, their new sign was installed last March. The gallery paid $40,000 for it. Cozens also thanked the town and director of recreation, facilities and culture Heidi Baillargeon for assisting, as the sign is actually on town property.
“We are very pleased with the performance of the sign and are open to suggestions of what should be posted,” he stated.
The Gallery also refurbished the exterior of the caboose at the rear of the building. He said it was built as a box car about 1890 for Hiram Walker, purchased by Essex Terminal Railway in 1954 and converted to a caboose, before being donated in 1973 to the Gibson Gallery and delivered to Amherstburg.
The exterior pine siding and trim had deteriorated with “significant areas of rot.” There have been siding and trim replacements, new north windows, a full exterior painting and evestroughs added, with the work done by Sean Girard of GEM Home Renovations.
“The approximate cost of this capital project was $25,000,” said Cozens.
The gallery also obtained federal funding for three summer students, he added, two operating the gallery and running children’s courses and a third handling maintenance and landscaping work.
Cozens thanked the 2024 board and all members and volunteers. He also thanked office manager Tracy Atkinson for all of her efforts.
“We could not survive without your support, assistance and dedication,” he said.
Goals that Cozens said have yet to be discussed with the board include restoring the interior of the caboose, suggesting a “Transportation in Amherstburg Around 1900” theme. He also would like to see facia and soffit repairs, additional and improved storage in the office area, improving the use of the new digital sign and webpage, creating a photographic record of classes, builds and exhibits along with video clips for the AGM and website, investigating the feasibility of a shipping container in the west yard for storage with it painted to look like a steam engine, working with the town to upgrade gardens and landscaping surrounding the parking lot and to have board members and members come up with ideas for the building’s 140th birthday in 2026.
The building was originally a Michigan Central Railway Station.
Treasurer Liz Campbell noted the gallery is in a strong financial position with five sources of revenue. She also pointed out there are now four $500 scholarships given to students at North Star High School, St. Thomas of Villanova Secondary School and St. Clair College.
Board member and exhibit committee chair Trudy Dempsey said there are 12 exhibits planned for 2025, starting with a members exhibit Feb. 27. She noted there were two “pop up” markets in 2024, more adult classes and a continuation of their popular children’s art classes.
Ideas bandied about for 2025 include new classes ranging from photography and film making to silk screening and digital art, using the gallery for additional uses such as weddings and small events, teaming with other railway stations in the area, more guest lectures, sculptures, having a sale of art people are looking to move on from and building more community partnerships.
Guest speaker Meg Reiner from the Marsh Collection Society, outlined railway history in Amherstburg. Her presentation dated back to 1854 and efforts to bring rail service to Amherstburg. That occurred by 1872 with rail service running through a portion of Anderdon Township then known as Gordon.
An agreement to build what is now the Gibson Gallery was approved in the mid-1890s and construction started shortly thereafter. It stopped being a railway station in 1969 and would eventually be converted into the art gallery it is today.Poet Karen Rockwell, whose work is in the book “What Time Can’t Touch,” also read a poem about the gallery.
For more information on The Gibson Gallery, visit www.gibsongallery.org or call 519-736-2826.
Gibson Gallery holds AGM looks back at 2024 accomplishments
By Ron Giofu
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