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Kaddatz Gallery opens
Published 6:00am Wednesday, June 3, 2009Artists from the area have a new venue to showcase their artwork with the opening of the Kaddatz Galleries Tuesday on Lincoln Avenue in Fergus Falls.
In its first exhibit, visitors will be able to view art in various mediums from Fergus Falls artists.
Kaddatz Board of Directors member Sandy Rufer called it “stunning,” adding that the exhibit says a lot about the level of the area art community.
After its opening exhibit, Gallery Manager Gretchen Boyum said other area artists will be featured in rotating exhibits. The board also hopes to create a permanent collection of local artwork in the gallery, Boyum said.
The gallery is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Thursdays; and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturdays. Boyum said they also will try to be open to coincide with events at the Center for the Arts across the street from the gallery.
Visitors can also purchase prints while at the gallery.
A grand opening is planned for the gallery June 18. At 5 p.m., a plaque will be presented commemorating the Kaddatz Hotel’s placement on the National Register of Historic Places. A raffle for an unreleased Charles Beck print will follow the presentation. Tickets are available for the raffle at the gallery.
Planning for the Kaddatz Galleries began a year ago.
The main floor of the Kaddatz Hotel had been left vacant for commercial leasing when the building was renovated several years ago, Rufer said.
A group of people had gotten together, believing it was time for the artwork of Charles Beck and other area artists’ to be accessible to the public, Rufer said.
After the first meeting of the Kaddatz Board of Directors a year ago, they raised money and put in many hours of volunteer work to make the space ready for the gallery, Rufer said.
It also received its 501(c)3 status as a non-profit organization. The gallery will operate on grants and donations. Boyum explained that by not operating as a commercial venture, the gallery is about the artists and their work, when everyone benefits.
Support from the community and the city of Fergus Falls for the gallery has been strong. It’s been clear that the community believes it’s the “right project at the right time,” Rufer said.
The Board of Directors also has plans for the gallery in the future. They plan collaborate with schools, continuing education programs and other arts organizations, including the Center for the Arts, to offer educational opportunities in art appreciation and hands-on experience for people of all ages, Rufer said.
