VISUAL ARTS + MUSEUMS

Archway Gallery presents the 35th Anniversary Retrospective Exhibition - Celebrating 35 Years of Presenting Fine Art. Exhibition October 1 - November 3, 2011. Opening Reception & Artist Talk Saturday, October 1, 2011,  5 – 8 p.m. Light refreshments will be served

Archway Gallery, an artist-owned collaborative gallery, is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year and in honor of this milestone has organized a special 35th Anniversary Retrospective exhibition, featuring 30+ former Archway Gallery Artists from 1976 – 2011, including several founding members.  Many of these former artists will be on hand to visit with guests during the exhibition opening reception on Saturday, October 1 from 5 – 8 p.m. at the gallery.

Archway Gallery opened its doors on April 1, 1976 with eleven members at The Jung Center in the Houston Museum District. While the gallery has had several homes over the years, including The Jung Center and a space on West Gray, it is currently located at 2305 Dunlavy and has 30 artist members who create work in a variety of media and styles. Each member’s work is on display year round and there are always artists on-site, manning the gallery.

Archway Gallery has been home to more than 80 artists since its founding in 1976. Archway Gallery members are also the gallery owners and are adept in the daily operations of the art gallery. Many former members have moved on to successful careers as artists. Some have founded their own galleries, both in the Houston area and elsewhere. Many are active in art organizations that support and nurture the arts in their locales.

Co-founder Stephanie Nadolski, one of the featured artists in the 35th Anniversary Retrospective, reflected on her beginnings with Archway: “I cannot begin to count the ways Archway contributed to my entire artistic professional career. The artists who were there for support and inspiration and the loyal clients that became our friends added many layers of dimension to my personal and professional growth.”

Over the past 35 years, the members of Archway Gallery have made significant contributions to the development of a successful art community in the Houston region, launched successful art careers, fostered the growth of area art galleries and been a model of an artist-owned cooperative gallery.

Archway has hosted three annual juried exhibitions in 2009, 2010 and 2011, giving other artists the opportunity to display their work and win cash prizes. In addition, the first place winner displays their work at the gallery for one month. Moreover, proceeds from the sales have benefitted some of Houston’s most deserving non-profit organizations including the Houston Humane Society and the Houston Area Women’s Center.

Archway has contributed to the growth of not only the visual arts but the written and spoken word. For the past 14 years, Archway has hosted “Archway Readers,” where Houston area writers gather for monthly readings. Other Archway events include “Tea and Tour,” where visitors have the opportunity to enjoy an in-depth look at the art and artists of Archway Gallery.

Pictured above:  Archway Gallery Back in the Day.