POTTERS gALLErY

The Jamestown Renaissance Corporation, in collaboration with Jamestown High School and Tom Mason, recently finished an enhancement project at POTTERS gALLErY—an alley art gallery that originated in Potters Alley between Fourth and Third Streets.

“The JRC is pleased to have the opportunity to expand on this collaborative project as part of its Urban Design Plan implementation efforts,” Jason Stronz, the organization’s Executive Director, said.

Mason joined the partnership JRC built with JHS and Jamestown Community College to expand the gallery west of Potters Alley on to the side wall at his downtown property, which houses Mason’s Fine Arts. The gallery now includes 49 pieces of student artwork from the two schools--It was established in 2010 thanks in part to grants from the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation and the Gebbie Foundation.

“As a former high school art teacher, I am excited to have the chance to display student work on my building,” Mason said. “All the activity on North Main Street is accentuated by this and other forms of public art. I hope this initiative continues to expand.”

JHS student artwork currently accounts for 37 of the 49 pieces.

The JHS art department contributed 14 works for 2012. Works by Katie Baudo, Avalon Bradshaw, Anne Campion, Dennis Drew IV, Justin Hodges, Katie Kitchell, Katie Miktuk, Abbie Perrin, Rebecca Rew, Kameron Rizzo-Walker, Eric Ryberg, Hannah Samuelson and Megan Terry are new this year. (See right sidebar for students whose art work was selected in past) 

“The students selected this year, as in year’s past, are thrilled to see their work on display in POTTERS gALLErY,” JHS art teacher Stephanie Baker said. “The expansion of this space continues to emphasize our community’s talent—and its fondness for the arts.”

JCC, meanwhile, contributed nine pieces in 2011 to gallery space south of Third Street. Josh Clark, Mindy Drohin, Karl Hansen, Kyla Hill, Sharise Peacock, David Saporito, Sara Schmitz, Nicole Ten Eyck and Molly Woodfield were each given POTTERS gALLErY awards at the JCC Student Art Show in late April. Their artwork constitutes the aforementioned nine-piece collection. Works by Aaron Dolecki, Caitlin Ross and Ryan Sinatra, who were bestowed the same honor in 2010, are still hanging in the original gallery space between Fourth and Third Streets.

POTTERS gALLErY is also augmented by an Active Artists Alliance mural in Potters Terrace. It was completed in 2010.

Vacanti’s Extreme Signs produced and installed the framed prints.

Further enhancements to the gallery are scheduled to be implemented later this fall.