A bowl of wrapped chocolates demonstrates Mary Beth McClure’s passion for glass. She fuses different colors and types of glass then fires them in a kiln.Several local artists are opening their hearts to Hart on Friday.
In-Town Gallery, Chattanooga’s 40-year-old cooperative gallery, is hosting Art to Hart, combining its regular First Friday reception with a benefit to collect art supplies for nonprofit Hart Gallery.
Hart, located at 110 E. Main St., is unusual in that its mission is to offer the homeless and other nontraditional artists a way to create and sell their work. Additionally, staff at Hart teaches classes for other nonprofits around town that serve senior adults, at-risk youth, families in crisis and the physically or mentally disabled.
Gay Arthur painted “Re-Tired Man,” after she and fellow painter Victoria Pearmain met “this really cool guy” on M.L.King Boulevard while the two artists were walking in downtown Chattanooga. Arthur’s work gives insight into a “man who has probably seen better days but has a dignity of his own,” an example of the clientele Hart Gallery serves.“February is the month of the heart, a month for giving,” says In-Town President Virginia Webb. “We felt this was a really good fit. We have 33 artists who all understand the need for good supplies and camaraderie with other artists. It’s an outreach from our gallery to the artists of Hart.”
Ellen Heavilon, founder and director of Hart Gallery, explains that all supplies used by clients of the nonprofit are funded through donations and a nominal percentage the nonprofit gets from sales of its clients’ work.