The Hart Gallery is not only transforming the lives of homeless and disadvantaged individuals by providing an opportunity for each participant to create a livelihood through art, it's also contributing to the surrounding community.
"It's so different than I thought it would be," said Ellen Heavilon, who opened the gallery with her husband, Jay, in October. "It's got a will of its own and has become much more of a community-based center that helps with the individuals' entire lives."
Volunteers and artists build community garden boxes at the Hart Gallery. From left are Jay and Ellen Heavilon, Kyle Schaefer, Ayda Castro, Zach Cooper, Billy Broom, John Kilgore, Seija Ojanpera and Nestor Velasquez.The gallery recently built raised boxes that will be part of a community garden. Heavilon will invite Southside neighbors to help plant vegetables as well as flowers near the end of April. She said they will be using natural manure and fresh black soil to fill the beds.
One of the homeless artists featured in the gallery walked from Brainerd to the Southside in the rain to work with other volunteers on the garden boxes. John Kilgore said he will make the walk again to help with planting.
"I love [the gallery]," said Kilgore, who has sold two paintings so far. "I think it's excellent. My art's not ever been in a gallery."
Every Wednesday and Thursday, Heavilon invites chosen homeless artists like Kilgore to the gallery to work on new pieces. She said they share a meal on those days and she teaches household manners such as setting the table in order to promote life skills and a sense of community. Heavilon said she hopes to find volunteers in the form of retired teachers who can host reading lessons before the art sessions.
More than 26 artists have had the opportunity to present their work in the gallery. Now, because of space constraints, Heavilon is being more selective in the pieces she presents. All the proceeds go back to the artists themselves, minus a 10 percent tithe for the organization that found the artists.
"We are just getting to the point now where we are getting choosy," Heavilon said. "We're trying to impress upon the artists that they should do their best and take their time with each piece."
One artist at the gallery, known by the name Java, left the streets and now lives in Dogwood Manor thanks to the art she is able to sell at the gallery.
Since it opened, Hart Gallery has worked with organizations such as the Chattanooga Community Kitchen, Signal Centers, Bridge Refugee Settlement Services, Partnership for Families, Children and Adults as well as the Interfaith Homeless Network of Greater Chattanooga, The Latino Project and AIM Center.