A few short months ago a local businessman, who wishes to remain anonymous, sent his real estate agent to approach some of the board members at the YSRAC with an exciting opportunity. He donated his 6500 sq ft. gallery space, rent-free for an entire year, with the hope that it would help bring the community together by offering a place to share, sell, and fabricate artwork, as well as teach or attend many different types of creative classes. His plan worked. The project was a labor of love; many local artists, art enthusiasts, and businesses all came together to turn the D Street Project into Gallery 34.
Lily Noonan, the Treasurer and Board Liason for the YSRAC, was amazed at how many people in the area donated time, money, and supplies to turn faith and a dream into reality. She says, “The building owner was really committed to the project and wanted to see it through. It is incredible how quickly and smoothly the entire project came together, even better than we could have hoped for. I’m so grateful; it is miraculous that so many people think that this idea was important and exciting enough to support it- it literally brings me to tears.”
Price and Noonan raised the money for the business licenses, taxes, and utilities. There are too many other contributors to list them all, but a few names on the “Leap of Faith” list include Union Lumber, Arne’s Paints, SRI Supreme, and Thread and Ink. Jim Carr from Papasan’s has spent time sanding, drilling, and repairing, with Yuba-Sutter Recology offering garbage pickup or a year. Rick Murai, Sara Sealander, and Glen Husted are all Yuba College art professors that contributed. Paul and Kathy Sedler, Chris Parent, and Sue Shaffer all contributed. Ricky Samayoa and Chris Billeci are two members of the Marysville City Council that donated personal funds. The most touching was a sizable donation, made in memory of Gordon and Dorothy Wertz, from an anonymous man who lived in our area during the 1960’s. He heard about the project and was so excited about it, he contacted the board all the way from San Francisco to donate.
The gallery offers several activities at various times through the month, including:
“Sip and Sketch” from 6-9pm on the first and third Sunday of every month. It’s a community drawing party, (often themed) which features live models that pose for ten-twenty minute sessions. Bring your sketchbooks, sculpting materials, cameras, or other art supplies, along with snacks and beverages for yourself. All ages are welcome! There is a $5 suggested donation. There is a “Starving Artist’s Potluck” from 6-8pm on the first Tuesday of every month. There is no charge or agenda, just good food and fun socializing. Bring a dish if you can, or friends. The more the merrier! The “Women’s Creative Circle” is every third Wednesday of every month from 11am-12pm. This is a gathering of creative minds to share, teach, and mentor; it is women inspiring women. The “World of Wine” tasting event is from 5-8pm on the second Friday of every month. All ages are welcome but there is a $5 tasting fee for the full experience. There is a “Beautiful World Book Club” discussion every second and fourth Thursday from 5:30-7pm and an “Open-Mic Night” every Monday from 7-10pm for locals to do poetry, comedy, music, and more. Open-mic, however, is currently on hiatus.
Gallery 34 is located at 419 D Street, Marysville, California. It currently features many mediums of work from over thirty artists. The work is available for viewing or purchasing, and the gallery is run completely by volunteer artists. It is open every week, Wednesday through Sunday, from 11am-7pm. Drop in or call for more details (530) 763-5741 or you can find them on the web. www.gallery34.org or www.facebook.com/gallery34.
Heather Meunier, current Print Editor of The Prospector, is a 4th semester Journalism student, and 3rd semester English tutor who also freelances for the Yuba-Sutter Community magazine. She has a passion for reading, writing, photography, and travel and plans to one day have a full time writing career or be a publicist. She prefers to write positive stories about inspiring people doing beneficial things in the community. You can reach her at prospector.hmeunier@gmail.com if you have comments or suggestions.
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