Three Rivers Gallery & Gifts Update and Important Survey Due June 10th!

We have all experienced tremendous change this past year including the TRAG Gallery. First thanks to everyone who participated and supported the Gallery this past year.  I am pleased to say we are still hanging in there, but we are considering some changes and need our members’ input before moving forward. The following is an update on the Gallery and a questionnaire that we need your response on by June 10th.
 
Due to the absence of a tenant in the café, the Gallery has experienced much slower traffic, and some of you expressed a desire to find another space for the Gallery. TRAG board members made a concerted effort to find a different space but found that most spaces are double what we are paying. I would like to make everyone aware that the Singer Hill owners have done everything possible over the past year to keep us going. We would not be open without them, and we owe them our deepest gratitude and support.
 
Due to the slower traffic and vacant space at Singer Hill, we are considering keeping the Gallery open only from Friday through Sunday from 10-4 until the owners find a new tenant. Lesser hours will also help to man the gallery, which has been an issue over the past few months. Some members are more comfortable with a second person, but this has made it difficult to fill all spots. Please be aware that fees, commission percentages, and hours will remain the same – only the days will change. TRAG needs your input before putting any of these changes into place. Please fill out the following survey and return by June 10th. This will give us enough information and time to announce a Call for Artists.

Three Rivers Gallery & Gifts reopening update

Opening the TRAG gallery has been penciled in for September 2nd.   

Thirty-nine TRAG artists have been patiently waiting to fill the gallery to the brim with wonderful creations. Our goal is to follow the Oregon health guidelines in planning the safest environment for our artists and customers. 
We are limiting the number of artists at a time to bring in their art to the gallery over a 3 day period. A skeleton crew will stage the art and ready the gallery for our September 2nd opening.  We will have a mask, glove, and hand sanitizer table at our entrance and will monitor a limited customer flow for social distancing. In planning safety for our artists, some will not be working shifts in the gallery. Those who are at a higher health risk and / or hesitant to be in a more social situation will have their shifts covered by other members. Our hours will be shorter, from 9am – 2pm. 

We will not be celebrating our opening with an Artist reception in these pandemic times. We welcome you to come and see the Gallery changes, view, and possibly purchase your fellow members artwork. 

Sue Woodworth
Holly Kroening
Jeanne Kelly Brown
Three Rivers Artists Guild
Gallery Coordinators

Three Rivers Gallery & Gifts reopening update

Our schedule to reopen is being pushed out at least another 2 weeks.  

Due to COVID 19 and Singer Hill business plans I can share that we need to wait “for a go ahead”. We cannot put any dates in play at this time.      Be glad that our small gallery rooms have fresh new carpet that was installed by Trieste and her wonderful husband Roger. Roger also provided some molding stripes to complete our main room wall hanging area.  We have newly hung 4’x8′ and 2’x 4′ slat wall pieces for hanging pictures on so less wall space will have nail holes. Those came from a great find on Craigslist. I thank my husband for helping Holly and I put those up.  We were offered a great price on a rot iron jewelry display case and thank Sue Thomas and her husband for jumping from their seats immediately to pick it up.  A big thank you to Trieste Andrews who single handedly cleaned our bathroom~!!  Our small (for safety reasons) gallery cleanup/staging crew has just a bit more to pick straighten up.    

We are working on some tags that you can print to be used next to wall 2D and shelf 3D. Hang in there~!! 

Delay of plans is preferable to error. 

Sue Woodworth 
Holly Kroening
Jeanne Kelly-Brown
TRAG Gallery Coordinators

Three Rivers Gallery & Gifts Update

On May 24th artists were given the opportunity to pick up their Art at the Gallery inside Singer Hill Cafe. Artists came in at 1/2 hour scheduled times, donning face masks to maintain social distancing, as Sue Woodworth and Holly Kroening helped gather their precious artwork. We are all asking “What next? When will we reopen? Is Singer Hill Cafe opening soon”? The owners of Singer Hill have wanted to sell the café business for quite some time. TRAG keeps in touch with them regularly, and we are delighted that potential new owners and creative business models are all being seriously considered. We are happy to report that all of these options always include the Three Rivers Artist Gallery. The tentative goal is to “possibly” have the Singer Hill Cafe and our TRAG gallery open the first of September 2020. Do we know that for sure – no, but let’s think positively! Be aware that we would need to be compliant with Covid-19 business restrictions and regulations. Our artists need to be thinking of how to display their art, manage their scheduled working time and being with the public. That is just a fact of this new environment we are in. 
 
The TRAG gallery management will look a bit different as we plan to reopen.  After much consideration ~ I will continue as the Gallery Coordinator. My goal is to be transparent with the workings of the Gallery, and oversee it with a fun, knowledgeable and idea-generating volunteer group.  I am looking to create a new gallery committee where big jobs can be broken down into smaller more manageable tasks. Since Cheri Bosserman is graciously taking over all of TRAG’s financing duties, we will need someone to manage the online scheduling. Holly Kroening will continue to manage our wall art. We are grateful to Vona Adams-Lawrence who has been managing all of the Gallery’s supply needs. Additionally, we need someone to watch over, cultivate and organize each rotation of gallery artists.
 
We are currently discussing some exciting new options for the Gallery when we reopen. We will continue to evaluate the 2-month versus 3-month gallery rotations. I would like to have 1-2 people dedicated to mentoring new artists regarding paperwork and salesperson skills, as they learn to work in the gallery. We also welcome ideas on the entry look to the Gallery – Something that will catch a person’s eye as they walk into the main room of the café, and a plan to implement it. Under the new management we will also continue TRAG’s “new artist jury committee”. We had our first meeting prior to our new Covid life but will meet again. I strongly see meetings held as zoom conferences or a potential outdoor meeting where we can easily comply with 6-foot distancing regulations. Our health and the accompanying chain of contacts will be a major deciding factor as we “mindfully” carry on from here. 
 
Does the idea of knowing more about the gallery, making our presence more notable in the community, and sharing and exploring new ideas interest you? I am eager to hear from you. You can contact me at gallerychair@threeriversartistguild.com I promise it will be fun and inspiring. There is nothing like art to bring a community together.

Susan Woodworth
Three Rivers Gallery & Gifts Coordinator

COVID-19 update

Due to the health issues surrounding the COVID 19 virus, and in order to protect both our members and customers, the TRAG Gallery will be closed until further notice. Additionally, the April 13th public Guild meeting at the Pioneer Center will also be cancelled. Instead, there will be a virtual Guild meeting about the use of Instagram and Facebook for the artist. All other meetings are subject to further notice. Please take care of yourselves and stay well. Let’s take this opportunity to delve into our passions and do what we love – create art and bring some much needed joy in a time we need it most. 

Trieste Andrews
President, Three Rivers Artist Guild

TRAG Gallery Closed

Updated  3/16 11:25 pm

I am glad to hear from so many of you with questions and  concerns. The choice that Trieste and I made for short hours for the gallery weighted heavily on us. We have NOW decided to keep the gallery closed. No one needs more potential close contacts at this time. Stay home, stay healthy and enjoy the time with your loved ones.  We will be closed at least though  April 1st.      

We will not have Art in/out on the March 28th / 29th as that would bring too many people together. If someone is in need of their art at the end of the month that certainly can be arranged. So sorry to cause more worry and concerns earlier.  

We care about all of you. It is important to us to be part of the solution.

Sue Woodworth
Gallery Co-chair Coordinator
New Artist Jury Coordinator

TRAG Gallery Open / Singer Hill take out meals

This is the TRAG Gallery  3/16/2020 update due to Gov. Brown’s announcement of restaurants closing for take-out only in Oregon. Unfortunately, Singer Hill will be closed as of  Tuesday, March the 17th, 2020,  except for take outs. 

Fortunately, Singer Hill says that the TRAG gallery can stay open on a daily basis. After having discussed with Trieste Andrews the pros and cons…. We shall have “bankers hours” 9am -2pm.

We will have our TRAG sign set out with an open notice on it by the middle door that comes into the cafe. Singer Hill will be kind enough to advise customers who come in for take out orders that they are welcome to browse the gallery while waiting. 

We shall see how this goes and re-evaluate as the days go on. My hope would be that people will have cabin fever and need some place to wander safely for a bit. What better place to wander than our gallery. Art In/out will be the last weekend of March. Work your shifts. Bring in fun work for customers to see. Every sale is important. 

If you have questions or concerns or ideas please feel free to email or call. 

Sue Woodworth
Gallery Co-chair 
503-807-0353