What’s the mystery of the art filled box popping up in front of downtown businesses? Welcome to Pendleton’s Free Little Art Gallery, the brainchild of local nonprofit Pendleton Artisan Network – another artistic endeavor strengthening Pendleton’s reputation as an artistic destination.
What is The Pendleton Artisan Network?
The Pendleton Artisan Network, or PAN, was born during an artist meetup in 2024 at local coffeeshop Buckin’ Beans. The meeting brought together Pendleton creatives in search of like-minded folks looking to share their experiences and endeavors over caffeine.
Local potter Tom Henderson saw a common thread weaving through the informal group, and started PAN with several of the attendees.
Thanks to a generous Amazon Change X grant, PAN was able to build their nonprofit from the ground up, funding website development and infrastructure costs. The funding also helped to print out the posters you may have noticed hanging around town.
The grant was also instrumental in bringing Pendleton’s newest (and, most likely, smallest) art gallery to life while simultaneously allowing PAN Vice President Marie Pratuch upcycle a previous Change X funded project.
“PAN’s Free Little Art Gallery actually began as a Free Little Pantry,” says Pratuch. “I had gotten an earlier Change X grant to create a free little pantry in Pendleton. Unfortunately, the pantry was abused and vandalized. To complicate matters, the church hosting the pantry decided to expand its parking lot so the project was shuttered.”
Following the pantry’s removal, Pratuch brought it home, storing it for a future use. “The free pantry was a middle school shop project, and I hated the thought of the students’ hard work going to waste. I knew it could eventually find a new life.”
As PAN built its nonprofit infrastructure, they also set eyes on outreach between local artisans and the community at large.
Artistic Opportunity Knocks
An offshoot of the Free Little Library phenomenon, Free Little Art Galleries (FLAG for short) can be found in communities throughout America. Pendleton has a tradition of upcycling its libraries; the former Carnegie Library on Main is now the home of Pendleton Center for the Arts.
“Marie and I began sharing photos of little art galleries in Portland,” shares PAN Secretary Stephanie Huffman. “They brought us so much joy that we were inspired to create one in Pendleton.”
Grant funds were used to pay local artisan Kaolin Henderson to weld a base. Pratuch mounted the pantry box onto the frame attaching wheels to the bottom.
Mobility is a crucial aspect of the project.
“Though FLAG’s home base is at Pendleton Ceramics (148 S. Main St.), it was built for mobility and accessibility. Local businesses are invited to host the gallery for special occasions. “We’re going to make a game out of it. The first person to post a photo of FLAG’s in front of the hosting business will win a prize from participating merchants,” says Huffman.
Community Art with Historic Roots
Upon first sight, visitors may notice the gallery looks like a building. The design choice is a nod to Pendleton’s history. Since FLAG will be spending most of its time in the Historic District, paint colors were selected from the Sherwin Williams historical colors paint palette. The base was painted to resemble bricks as a further nod to downtown’s numerous historical brick buildings.
Whimsy and outreach aren’t the gallery’s only purposes. Little art galleries encourage community engagement. Traditional galleries can feel exclusive. Creatives may not feel their work would be accepted in galleries; art appreciators may not have the budget to collect art.
Little art galleries provide a space for both. Anyone can leave art for others and take art for free. Community connections are created while making art accessible.
How does the Free Little Art Gallery work?
Like the books found in free libraries, the content of Free Little Art Galleries evolves over time.
Pendleton’s FLAG currently displays homemade jewellery made by local artist Dakota Lecka, knit monster creations of Stephanie Huffman, and pottery and paintings created by Marie Pratuch.
“Art found in the boxes is free by design,” says Huffman. “There’s a perception that art collection is the domain of the wealthy. We want to make art available to everybody. By creating a give one, take one environment, we’re enriching our community and creating a network between artists and art appreciators.”
A Starring Role On Main Street
Change X regularly creates videos to document the community projects they have funded. This year Pendleton Artisan will be featured in the video documenting funded projects in Umatilla County. Last Friday, June 5, Main Street shoppers may have noticed one of their regular stops was temporarily closed form filming.
Local small business Morningstar Blends served as the project’s first guest host and the site for the interview.
“It was quite an honor to be chosen to be the first small business to host the Free Little Art Gallery.” Says Maya Bamer of Morningstar. “What a joy it was to see how many people interacted, looked, and shared art during the time it was here. What a great project to bring artists together and share their work!”
Click here to read Chatting Tea with Maya Morningstar !
Local artisans looking to contribute art to the gallery are welcome to visit Pendleton Ceramics to add their work to the gallery’s rotating collection. Businesses looking to host the gallery should email PAN @ [email protected] to arrange a hosting date.
Follow the Free Little Art Gallery’s travels by following Pendleton Artisan Network on social media!
