'Very Merry Promotional' at River Gallery aids Orange Grove art students

The title suggests Hallmark movie: "A Very Merry Promotional." But it's the results that tug at the heartstrings.

Every holiday season since 2014, River Gallery has coaxed customers into helping out Orange Grove Center, a private nonprofit organization founded in 1953 to serve children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

In the gallery promotion, customers are asked to donate 5 percent of a purchase of $100 or more to receive a 15 percent discount. With a purchase of $1,500 or more, the discount rises to 20 percent. All proceeds go to Orange Grove's art department.

"Following the Light," a 12- by 16-inch oil on panel by Dennis Heckler. / Contributed photo from River Gallery

"Every customer that comes in, we tell them about the holiday promotional, and we tell them a little bit about what Orange Grove is and what they do," says sales assistant Norman Davis. "We have visitors who have never been to the area, so they learn about this local organization. And we have people come in that have family members or they know someone who attends Orange Grove, so they already have a connection to it."

Davis says customers are especially supportive of the promotion's art-to-art connection. "Some donate more than the holiday promotional out of the kindness of their heart."

Dennis Wilkes, art director at Orange Grove since 1974, says donations the past four years have helped him purchase equipment that the departmental budget would still have him pinching pennies to acquire, including a kiln, an iMac and a D500 Nikon camera. This year, he has his eye on a planer for some of the department's woodworking projects.

"They've been extremely generous," he says of owners Charles and Mary Portera and others associated with the gallery. "There have been things I would not have been able to buy for quite a while that I was able to purchase immediately."

He uses any leftover funds to buy art supplies, "which are always needed," says Wilkes, who works with about 200 clients a week.

Wilkes says he also appreciates the gallery's hands-on interest in the organization.

"They came by once and sat in on a class, working with a class on a mask-making project. It was very successful and a lot of fun. They benefited as well as the students did. They were able to see firsthand how working with our population can make a big difference."

Davis says touring the facility and seeing how the art equipment is used has been a highlight for gallery employees as well.

Mississippi artist Dennis Heckler will capture the beauty of the Bluff View Art District during an artist demonstration of plein air oil painting from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at River Gallery. / Contributed photo from River Gallery

"Every year, including the very first year, we visited and have visited every year and even participated in an art class with Dennis, getting to see how the students interact with the art in class and how Dennis interacts with the students. It's neat that we can get that real-time information of where the donations go."

December has been an especially busy month at the gallery with a series of artist demo days. This Saturday, Mississippi artist Dennis Heckler will be at the gallery showcasing his plein air techniques.

"During the holidays, people are doing more purchasing and looking for art, so we try to do extra events," Davis says. "Being able to see the artists and talk with them enriches the experience for everyone - the artist and the customer.

And purchases made through 5 p.m. Dec. 31 can enrich the art students at Orange Grove Center as well.

Contact Lisa Denton at ldenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6281.