A reception is scheduled for Friday at the renamed Galesburg Community Arts Center

GALESBURG – The first in-person opening reception at the Galesburg Community Arts Center in nearly two years will take place at its new location – and could feature hard hats as well.

“We need to fully embrace the topic of under-construction,” Cetin, executive director, said on Tuesday.

The art centre’s members and friends exhibit exhibit opens with a reception Friday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. – the first since November 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and space issues at its long-standing former location at 114 E. Main St.

Formerly the Galesburg Civic Art Center, the organization is transitioning to its new space in the historic Odd Fellows Building, 349 E. Main St.

Friday’s reception is the first time the public will be able to take a look.

“People have to be prepared for a difficult space and to embrace construction,” Cetin said. “But I think it will give artists and the community a sense of what the space could be like and how we’re going to use it.”

The building, which has been occupied for decades by the Galesburg Antiques Mall, was donated by owners Mark and Jeannette Kleine to the organization.

After the art center began to occupy some spaces in the new building in mid-August, teams worked every day, Cetin said.

The Galesburg Antiques Mall is moving out of the building into its new space in the old Register-Mail building at 140 S. Prairie St.

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So far, Cetin said some renovations have been possible on the two middle and eastern spaces of the new art center building on Main and Seminary streets.

“This is where we hold our main gallery hard helmet exhibit,” Cetin said.

The completed facility will include art galleries, studios, classrooms, expanded retail space, regional artistic innovation lab, event space, and healing space dedicated to the permanent art collection. of the Center.

The organization will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2023 and had been in its former space since 1964.

“Our far-reaching goal is to have this building fully renovated during this centenary year,” Cetin said.

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In the near future, the focus will be on opening the art centre’s gift shop and handing the artists over to the public, but all spaces will be makeshift for a while, Cetin said.

The art centre’s gift shop will also open on Friday and will remain open throughout the holiday shopping season.

“We have a ton of new and old artists. We have something for everyone, ”Cetin said of the gift shop. “It will talk about being on Seminary Street for sure.”

The work of more than 65 artists from Galesburg and within an 80 km radius will be on display at the Members and Friends Exhibition until November 27.

The exhibition features paintings, fibers, works on paper, sculptures, photographs, collages, metalwork, stained glass and more from over 65 artists.

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This year’s juror, Tyler Hennings, director of the Western Illinois University Art Gallery in Macomb, will award more than $ 850 in cash prizes.

Additionally, in what would later become the Blick Gallery, the work of three students from Galesburg High School – Bryar Townsend, Victoria Pettet, and Jacob Sims-Wetterow – will commemorate a National Week of the Arts in Late Education. Their work will be on display until December 17.

There is no admission fee. Masks are mandatory.

Normal hours for the Galesburg Community Arts Center are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

More information is online at galesburgarts.org.