CENTERPIECE: New Show at Alchemia Gallery Features Wearable Art

It’s the same every holiday season.

The search for a truly one-of-a-kind gift commences, occasionally resulting in the discovery of some extraordinary and unique treasure, but often not.

That’s the issue tackled this year by the gifted artists who work and display their creations at Alchemia Gallery on Kentucky Street, in downtown Petaluma. Just in time for holiday shopping, the gallery and studio - dedicated to the work of artists with disabilities - is launching a new show this Saturday. Titled “Put Together,” the exhibit features exuberantly coloful wearable art designed and created by Alchemia artists.

Beth Hibbard, gallery coordinator, has been busy finalizing the selection and display of the pieces. About every eight weeks, Hibbard mounts a new show in the front of the gallery.

On Saturday, Nov. 18, from 5-8 p.m., the gallery will unveil ‘Put Together,’ a textile art show featuring art pieces that can be worn as actual apparel. The show will include portraits by Paige Green, a professional photographer based in Petaluma, who photographed five of the artists modeling their creations.

Hibbard has been at the helm of Alchemia’s cozy gallery and studio for two years. She previously spent ten years with Becoming Independent, a community-based organization serving people with disabilities in Sonoma, Napa and Solano counties. Her responsibilities include acting as advocate and agent for the artists, as well as curating shows and events.

The gallery is part of the larger Alchemia organization, which works in coordination with North Bay and Golden Gate Regional Centers, state-contracted case management, resource and referral agencies that oversee community-based services for nearly 375,000 Californians with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Over 8,000 children and adults receive services through North Bay Regional Center.

“Many of the artists come to us through the regional center, where staff have identified an interest in the arts,” Hibbard said. “We also get walk-ins and word-of-mouth referrals from family and friends of artists.”

Hibbard explained that rather than relying on specific themes for Alchemia’s art shows, she prefers to feature the work that best represents what the artists are currently doing.

“And I feel I’m a better curator,” she added, “if I have a personal relationship with the artists.”

Hibbard is an artist herself.

In addition to her administrative duties, she teaches art in the gallery two days a week, which gives her a chance to become better acquainted with the artists.

“I try to give them whatever they want in the way of supplies,” she said, wryly recalling driving to Oakland to pick up a mannequin and some beads for one artist with a very clear vision.

The gallery employs several professional local artists as teachers and mentors. Additionally, it depends on the assistance of many volunteers, both artists and others.

Like any other gallery, at Alchemia, most of the art pieces are for sale, sales split between the artist and the gallery. As the artists’ agent, Hibbard sets prices after conferring with them. She tries to strike a balance between the aspirations and marketability of each artist. She finds that often her artists set too low a valuation on their work.

“Some artists become collectible over time, in which case we gradually increase prices,” she revealed.

As a policy, the gallery studio provides all materials and covers all program costs.

“We source many materials from donations,” Hibbard said. “For example, our framing is done by Fassbinder Picture Framing & Gallery, using leftover frames.”

The Petaluma studio site is one of three in the county. At any given time, Hibbard manages up to 150 artists. The gallery also takes artwork on consignment from artists such Day Morrow, an Oakland painter who creates wearable t-shirts and paintings, often based on pop-culture themes.

Hibbard remodeled the gallery a year ago to make it feel more like a commercial art gallery.

“The art here is treated the same as the art you see in any commercial gallery,” she said.

While the front space of the gallery is dedicated to shows, the middle space has a “gift shop” look, including a large selection of greeting cards featuring artists’ work. The remaining areas are devoted to studio space, which can accommodate up to fourteen artists at a time.

Molly Wills-Gate is one of the artists to be featured in the Textile Fashion Show.

She creates paper clothing.

Artist Brook Smith uses colored ink to create a unique style, as evidenced by a large painting of the boy Mowgli astride the bear Baloo, from The Jungle Book. After sketching the essential elements of the work, he meticulously fills in each plane with an intricate texture. Hibbard and Smith are exploring the possibility of a children’s book based on his art.

“My pieces are a little weirder than some others,” he said. “I got into colored pens when I was fifteen. Doing art helps me to relax.”

Artist Tim Shorten is currently working on a stop-motion video project, receiving technical support from an Alchemia volunteer who goes by the name Lupita CA.

Hibbard’s studio assistant, volunteer Audrey Elias, is a photography student at Santa Rosa Junior College. She assists Hibbard with everything from artwork storage to computer tech support.

From the perspective of the gallery, the art is simply art-not the work of artists with disabilities. Still, there is something appealingly distinctive about it.

“The art comes from a place of authenticity,” said Hibbard.

She explains that people with disabilities are often subject to imposed limitations and related management in their lives. Because there is no “right” or “wrong” in art, they experience a freedom that may otherwise be lacking. The result is often a level of artistic expression filled with remarkable boldness and originality.

Said Hibbard. “I feel we are showing some of the most exciting artists in Northern California.”