Art Gym facts for kids
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| Established | 1980 |
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| Dissolved | 2018 |
| Location | Marylhurst, Oregon, United States |
| Type | University: art |
| Founder | Kay Slusarenko, Paul Sutinen, and Terri Hopkins |
The Art Gym was a special art gallery that showed modern art. It was located at Marylhurst University in Marylhurst, Oregon, USA. The gallery didn't collect art; instead, it focused on showing new and exciting works. In 2018, Marylhurst University closed down. Because of this, The Art Gym's collection of exhibition catalogs and historical documents moved to the Portland Art Museum.
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The Art Gym was dedicated to showing art from the Pacific Northwest region. This included art from artists who were just starting out, those in the middle of their careers, and even older artists. The gallery also showed experimental and very large art pieces. From 1980, The Art Gym displayed the work of over 300 artists. It also created more than 80 books about its exhibits. The gallery often held discussions with artists and public talks.
Contents
History of The Art Gym
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How The Art Gym Started
The Art Gym began in 1980. It was started by three art teachers from Marylhurst University: Kay Slusarenko, Paul Sutinen, and Terri Hopkins. They raised $1500 to open the gallery. Terri Hopkins was especially important in finding art for the exhibits and raising money for them. The university provided the space and basic support for the gallery.
The gallery was located on the third floor of the university's B.P. John Administrative Building. This space used to be the campus gymnasium and theater. The Art Gym was always focused on showing art and creating publications about artists from the Pacific Northwest.
Growing Importance
By 1990, a reporter named Randy Gragg said that The Art Gym had become "one of the Northwest's most important showcases of regional art." He noted that it had already shown art from over 250 artists from the Northwest, many from the Portland metropolitan area. The Art Gym offered important chances for young artists, artists wanting to try new things, and older artists who deserved recognition.
Changes and Closure
In 2000, The Art Gym held a special art show to celebrate its 20th anniversary. This event helped raise money to fix the gallery's floors and rebuild its movable walls.
Marylhurst University announced in 2018 that it would close. This made people wonder what would happen to The Art Gym. For a short time, it was planned that The Art Gym would move to the Oregon College of Art and Craft. However, this plan did not work out. The Oregon College of Art and Craft also closed in 2019.
On December 28, 2018, The Art Gym and the Portland Art Museum announced good news. The Art Gym's important records, including its exhibit catalogs, historical papers, and website, would move to the Crumpacker Library at the Portland Art Museum. This means The Art Gym's history and impact are preserved.
Awards and Support
Special Recognition
In 2005, The Art Gym received a Governor's Arts Award. This award recognized its important contributions to the arts.
Financial Support
In 2013, the Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation gave a large donation to The Art Gym. This money helped support the gallery's curator position. A curator is someone who chooses and organizes the art for exhibits.
Leaders of The Art Gym
Directors and Curators
Ashley Stull Meyers became the third director and curator of The Art Gym in 2017.
Before her, Terri Hopkins was the director from 1980 to 2013. Blake Shell then served as director from 2013 to 2017.
