The Grand Impromptu Gallery

....a little bit of history

At the end of 2007 a small group of artists banded together with plans to create a cooperative gallery in Tacoma. Starting in January 2008 the six founding artists consisting of printmaker Bill Colby, photographer Bea Geller, painter Trinda Love, painter/printmaker Dorothy McCuistion, painter/printmaker Jason Sobottka and photographer Chip VanGilder, decided to move forward. The Grand Impromptu Gallery was born and the first exhibit was mounted in January 2008.

The gallery’s members, which own and operate the gallery, created this mission statement to guide them: The Grand Impromptu Gallery seeks to benefit the community through its mission of maintaining a gallery space to exhibit and sell the artwork of member artists, present exhibits of non-member artists, and provide a space for art to happen in both traditional and non-traditional ways.

During the month of January the group invited more artists to enlist in the venture. By the end of February five new members joined: painter Becky Frehse, stone sculptor LeeAnn Seaburg Perry, printmaker Susan Paredes, photographer Dane Gregory Meyer and photographer Betty Ragan.

Since February a couple artists have left and photographer Peter Serko joined the endeavor in August. The current members are Bill Colby, Becky Frehse, Bea Geller, Trinda Love, Dorothy McCuistion, Betty Ragan, LeeAnn Seaburg Perry, Peter Serko and Chip Van Gilder.

With the advice of Trinda Love’s husband Asher Wilson (opportunely both a CPA and an attorney) the group developed a six-month business plan anticipating no sales. But instead of failure, the gallery has experienced success. The gallery has added more accomplished artists who have also brought with them skills and talents as administrators, exhibit designers, and handy-persons.

As owners of the gallery, the members have the freedom to experiment and play. They are challenged by each other artistically and are mastering the art of compromise, so necessary to working cooperatively. By offering their skills and talents, the gallery’s success is inevitable.

When you enter the gallery, don’t expect a dull environment. While maintaining a professional gallery look, the walls are filled with a wide range of artistic expressions, and exhibits completely change every 4-6 weeks. Expect the unexpected: the black and white next to an explosion of color, the contemplative adjacent to the humorous, the confrontational next to the shy and retiring.

The Grand Impromptu Gallery educates the public about the content, techniques and affordability of original contemporary art. Since the gallery is staffed by the exhibiting artists, the viewer has the rare opportunity to obtain an inside glimpse of the artist’s mind and what makes them create what they do. Observers also learn that an original artwork by a local artist is an affordable proposition. Since the gallery opened, many of the artists have sold artwork and are thrilled to see their creations become someone’s personal treasure and investment.

The Grand Impromptu Gallery is conveniently located next to the Grand Tacoma Cinema and is open during hours when movie patrons come and go and is also open by appointment.