History of our Gallery

The Culture Corner Gallery officially opened in 1983 and was known as the Visual Arts Gallery.  It provided a place where artists of many backgrounds, from the Santa Maria Area, could exhibit their artistry for the enrichment of the entire community.

On January 1, 1983, after the County of Santa Barbara had expressed an interest in giving control of the Veteran's Memorial Building to the City of Santa Maria, the Recreation and Parks Department assumed responsibility and the name of the facility was changed to the Veteran's Memorial Culture Center.

A need for the Gallery had been determined through a survey of the cultural community.  It showed there was not a gallery in the North County.  A gallery committee was formed under the direction of the Recreation and Parks Gallery Coordinator, and guidelines for policies and procedures were formed.

After a year in operation, the Gallery was remodeled to provide more room and enhanced by new carpeting.  The name changed to Culture Corner Gallery reopening was celebrated on the eve of the First Autumn Arts Faire in October 1984.

Due to our expansion of artists and wonderful growing community awareness we relocated to the Town Center Mall on June 2006 and became incorporated as a non-profit organization, changed our name to Town Center Gallery, with an appointed Board of Directors, Officers and all the other formalities that were involved in becoming our own entity.

In June of 2009 we moved to our present location, 321 Town Center West where we hope to continue to be a valuable asset to the community as we bring local visual art to the public eye for their appreciation.

 

Gallery Officers - 2012

President - Sharon Foster

1st Vice President - Mel Felix

2nd Vice President - Patricia Stalter

Secretary - John Card

Treasurer - Patricia Smith

Gallery Director - Hattie Stoddard

Administrative Director - Ron Dunn

 Education Director - Beverly Johnson

Financial Advisor -

Gallery Committees

Membership Chairperson - Patricia Stalter

Publicity Chairperson - Mike Corob

Newsletter - Cathy Gregg

Graphic Designer - Cathy Gregg       

Advertising - Mike Corob

Website Editor - John Card & Beverly Johnson

E-mail Specialist - Patricia Stalter

Gallery Director - Hattie Stoddard

            Wall Art coordinator(s) - Patricia Stalter & Sharon Foster

            3-D Art Coordinator - Hattie Stoddard

            Docent Calendar Coordinator -

            Name Tag Coordinator -Bill McDaniel

            Gallery Technician - 

            Historian - Esther Bartlett

 In-Gathering Chairperson - Vora Souza

            Check In & Check Out - Bev Hoebel & Vora Souza

            Cashier - Bev Hoebel

            Airport Coordinator - John Card

            Airport Sales Responder - John Card & Hattie Stoddard

Education Director - Beverly Johnson

            Scholarships - Beverly Johnson

            Art Class Coordinator - Beverly Johnson

            Art Class Calendar Coordinator - Beverly Johnson

Special Events Chairperson - Mel Felix      

            Autumn Arts Grapes & Grains Festival - Sharon Foster & Mel Felix

            Elwin Mussel Senior Center - Irene Humann

            Chamber of Commerce - Patricia Stalter

            Event Technician - 

            Sign Specialist  -  Mel Felix

Featured Artist Receptions Chairperson: Claudia Wagemann

           Raffles - Claudia Wagemann

           Wine Coordinators - Ron and Pat Dunn

Fund Raising Chairperson:

Gallery Meetings and Receptions

 

Monthly Board Meetings:  4th  Monday of the Month at 5:30 P.M.

General Membership Meeting and Artist Reception:  3rd Friday following each New Show 5:30 - 7:30 PM 

 

 

Gallery Policy

Town Center Gallery is a non-profit art gallery that got its start through the support of the Santa Maria Recreation & Parks Department and is now located in the Town Center West Shopping Center.

The gallery highlights many local artists from Santa Maria and the surrounding areas.

It is a cooperative gallery and is staffed by the artists who are displaying their work there.  Each artist is required to docent the gallery at least two, three hour shifts during the eight-week show and serve in some other manner.  If the docent calendar is full and by executive board decision, serving at least three hours in some other manner may qualify as one three hour shift.  If an artist works or cannot sit their shift they may "rent a docent" for $20.00 per shift.  If docent does not show up for their shift or find someone to work their shift, they will be fined $25.00.  

Art hangs in two venues:  The  Town Center West and the Santa Maria Airport Showcase.  Art shows run for eight weeks at each venue.  In-gatherings  at the Airport Showcase are the second Monday of the odd months.

In-gatherings  at the Town Center Gallery are the 2nd Monday of the even months.  The entry fee  is $15.00 for one or two pieces and $20 for three.  Plus a $5.00 fee for artists exhibiting in the shrink wrap bin per two month show.  Town Center Gallery receives 20% commission on all artwork, sculpture, 3-D art and Jewelry sold.  This commission is currently our only means of collecting operating fees and scholarship funds.  All artists must comply to the guidelines to be eligible to participate in the shows. (See Guidelines).  The fee for membership in the Gallery  is a onetime yearly fee of $30.00 per artist or  a family membership fee of $45.00.

Demonstrations are an important part of educating the public on what and how the artist works.  Town Center Gallery artists are encouraged to demo their work while serving as the Gallery docent, provided they keep their demos simple and it does not interfere with their main duties of minding the gallery.  More elaborate demonstrations may be scheduled with the Gallery director and conducted by the artists at other prearranged times.

Community involvement also fulfills our purpose to educate the public and promote the wonderfully talented local artists here in our community.  The Town center Gallery has been a participant of the Autumn Arts Grapes & Grains Festival in Santa Maria since its beginning in 1984.  We continue to support this event and look forward to representing our gallery in other local community events.

 

 

Gallery Display guidelines

 

To insure a uniform and professional look for our gallery, please follow these instructions:

All art must be presented in a professional manner and must be for sale.  Artwork must be signed by the artist in order for the artist to receive proper credit for any sales.

Attach business or information card to back of framed art and inside shrink wrapped artwork.  Include artist name, phone number and title of artwork.  Clearly identify the type of artwork (i.e. original, Giclee, laser print, photograph, digital art).  Photographs and Digital Art may be signed on the photograph or on the mat.  Biographical information may also be attached.

Framed Artwork:

Frames must be tight and in good condition, with no chips, scratches or discoloration.  Wire for hanging must be attached firmly and be strong enough to support the artwork safely.  Screws holding wire should be attached 1/3 of the way down from the top.  Attach wire so the top of the wire is 2 1/2 inches down from the top of the frame.  No saw tooth hangers.  Tape ends of wire.  No duct tape.  Mats must be clean and unblemished.  If a paper mat is used, artwork must be covered with glass or Plexiglas.  Glass or Plexiglas must be clean and free of scratches.  Oil paintings must be dry.

Cover back of artwork with craft type paper or foam core sealed with Artist Tape.  No cardboard or duct tape.  Clips are the preferred method to secure stretched canvas to frame,  no backing is required.  Edges of gallery wrapped canvas should be painted.

Shrink Wrap:

Artwork must be shrink wrapped or enclosed in clear plastic bags of proper size.  No Saran Wrap or
Baggies.   Shrink wrap secured with scotch tape, masking tape or duct tape will not be accepted.  Enclose business card or information card including artist's name and phone number.  Each shrink wrap will have a price tag.  Shrink wrap inventory is the responsibility of the artist.

 Mats 

Mats must be clean and cut in a professional manner.  Backing (i.e. foam core or mat board no cardboard) must be thick enough to not allow the artwork to bend. 

Greeting Cards:

Greeting cards are to be enclosed in clear plastic bags of proper size.  No Saran Wrap or Baggies.  Scotch tape, masking tape or duct tape will not be accepted.  Each wrapped card will have business or information card enclosed with artist's name.  Each greeting card will have a price tag.  Biographical information may also be included.  Artists will maintain their own greeting card inventory.

 Sculpture:

All sculpture must be professionally presented, properly labeled, priced and signed by the artist.

3-D Art:

Three Dimensional Art will be primarily handcrafted and Not factory made.    Must be professionally presented, properly labeled and priced by the artist.  We do not accept needlepoint, knitted or crocheted items.  Fabrics or textiles will be juried on an individual basis.

 

If you would like to get in touch with our Gallery:

Our address:  Town Center Gallery

321 Town Center West, #B6

Santa Maria, Ca.  93458

Our Telephone #:  805-349-7303

Our internet address: Leave us a message at:  www.thetowncentergallery@gmail.com