Story by Rusty Denise Hale

Spring River Art Gallery is simply a labor of love. It’s a non-profit organization that has come very far in its journey. From an idea to a reality, those involved have watched it bloom. Few folks realize just what a gem they have nestled just upstairs on Main Street in Hardy.

Faye Douglas owns the building and has a needlepoint shop downstairs from the gallery. She would look around the empty space upstairs and at the skylight located in the center room thinking… "this would be a perfect place for an artist's studio". Later she thought, "Why not an entire gallery?" tells Pat McCarroll, a volunteer at the gallery. "So that's kind of how the idea was born - Faye had the vision!" says Pat. Faye joined up with Trish Corder in 2001 to make this gallery dream a reality. Trish, an art teacher at Ozarka College, is the executive director of the gallery.

Even with limited funding, they found a way to make it happen. Volunteers donate their time to run the gallery and Faye provides the space free of charge. Utilities are paid by various fund raising efforts including a flea market. The displayed artists also pay a thirty percent commission for the sale of their art. All these efforts help to continue to sustain the gallery.

Besides future fund raising, the gallery is hosting its Second Annual Art Show October 16-25. "Each artist can display up to three pieces," says Pat. "We then have a professional artist judge the artwork," she says. "The show is open to the public so people can come and check us out!" she says. There is a reception and award presentation that follows the show on the last day. This show coincides with the local Arts and Crafts fair that is held in Hardy every year.

To have your art displayed, an application is submitted. "The application goes before the jurors committee," says Pat. "The work is reviewed by the committee, and voted on whether to be accepted or denied for display," she states. "The new artists are displayed on the “Emerging Artists” wall and over time, as their work improves, they will gravitate towards other spots," she said.

Always looking for ways to improve the gallery, the members decided to restore the gallery, bringing it back to more of an original look. In 2003, with help from Leonard Holden, they received a grant to do just that. "Members painted and put in track lighting, people donated their time and others donated items," she stated "All the paint was donated," she adds. "We are totally volunteer here at the gallery," she says.

It takes a lot of individual effort to keep this haven for budding artists going and the results are beautiful! The gallery walls are dominated by wonderful water colors, acrylics, and oil paintings. Also throughout the rooms are sculptures, photography, and handmade jewelry. "Most of our work is more on the traditional side, and we would love to have more of the stuff we don't have," she said.

The gallery also has classes that are offered periodically. "Jewelry making, pastels, figure drawing, water color, acrylic, and oils are some of the classes that have been offered in the past," says Pat. Classes are taught by visiting artists and sometimes members of the gallery. Decisions about classes are based on interest. "People may come in and say 'we would like to have an oil workshop' and if we have enough shown interest, we will try to get one together," says Pat.

When driving through Main Street Hardy, don't miss the Spring River Art Gallery sign. Take a few minutes, take the stairs, and take in some wonderful art. You'll be delighted and surprised at the talent and beauty located right here in our own backyard.