Arts council's new space takes shape

It has no name. But in less than two weeks, it will open as an art gallery.

Currently, 419 D Street in Marysville is still a large vacant hall in need of cleaning and paint.

On Sunday, volunteers and artists started the ambitious process of readying the 6,500 square feet of space for an open house scheduled for Dec. 3 — the day of the Marysville Christmas Parade.

The lease was signed late last week by the Yuba-Sutter Regional Arts Council, which is spearheading an effort to turn the vacant retail space into both a working space for local artists, and a place to showcase and sell their work.

"We're still working so many details out," said Inger Price, who has signed on as a member of the new artists' cooperative.

She will rent one of the available studio spaces where she will work on her fabric sculptures — one of several kinds of artwork she creates.

The fast-moving studio/gallery project began when the property's owner approached the Arts Council last month with an offer.

He will allow the nonprofit to use the building, rent free, so long as they create a successful and sustainable artists space there.

About $3,000 was quickly raised from local private donors to cover the cost of a deposit, business license, insurance, utilities account and other expenses.

"On paper, it looks like a losing operation," said Sutter artist Paul Boehmke, who assisted Sunday with the initial cleanup. "But this is an opportunity, and we aren't going to fail."

Boehmke, whose fused-glass works are on display in the Solomon Dubnick Gallery in Sacramento, said the downtown Marysville space, with its broad staircase and wrap-around second-floor, reminds him of an old ferry boat.

"A gallery in Sacramento would kill for this place," he said.

Price said she would like to teach sewing and art classes at the facility once it is fully developed.

Both she and Boehmke plan to rent gallery space there to showcase some of their work.

Boehmke joked Sunday about the quick deadline.

"It may not be polished, but we'll be open and we'll be the best art show in town," he said.

CONTACT reporter Nancy Pasternack at 749-4781