Courtesy Photo A couple of customers pose wearing masks outside the front door of Thunder Bay Arts Gallery on Chisholm Street in downtown Alpena. The gallery reopened on June 1.

By DARBY HINKLEY

News Lifestyles Editor

ALPENA — The Thunder Bay Arts Gallery reopened for business on June 1 after being closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In compliance with CDC and the governor’s mandates, masks and social distancing are required.

Now in its ninth year, the gallery offers art for sale by many talented local artists. The gallery features the work of 20 local artisans and includes paintings, watercolors, photography, jewelry, pottery, wood carving, wood burning, weaving, textile art and local pictorial and greeting cards.

“The artists were excited to have the gallery open, that’s for sure,” said TBA Council member Midge Connon.

Summer hours through Labor Day are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Thunder Bay Arts is also pleased to announce a crowdfunding campaign through Patronicity: Action for the Arts in Alpena. Through this campaign, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation will provide a matching grant, matching donations one to one up to the goal of $4,000.

“We are almost halfway to our goal,” campaign organizer Deb McClure said in a press release. “Our campaign will run through July 5, 2020.”

Thunder Bay Arts Council members are grateful to to those who have already supported their campaign.

“When I saw that Thunder Bay Arts Council was not able to hold Art on the Bay this year, I realized TBA was losing its biggest fundraising event,” said Mary Ann Neubert, a donor to the Patronicity campaign. “I would like to be a part of ‘Action for the Arts in Alpena’ to help support local artists and help keep the TBA Gallery open. Seeing that we are halfway to the goal of $4,000 made me want to be part of the effort. I love that Alpena is an art-loving, art-supporting community.”

Because art galleries are not considered essential businesses, TBA was not eligible for many of the relief loans and grants that were offered to other small businesses, according to Connon.

She said the Patronicity campaign is a “way for us to raise money to pay for expenses, such as rent and utilities. If we raise $4,000, it will be matched.”

“Thunder Bay Arts was approved for this Patronicity campaign as we have suffered a severe economic blow due to the pandemic,” McClure said in the press release. “Your donations will literally help to keep our Gallery doors open and continue to provide a venue for our talented artists while continuing to have a positive impact on the arts in Alpena. You will also be supporting our community outreach programs such as our youth art exhibits and our participation in the local Art Walk events.”

You may donate through the Patronicity campaign in several ways:

Donate via the Patronicity platform: https://www.patronicity.com/project/action_for_the_arts_in_alpena#!/

Send a check to Thunder Bay Arts, 127 W. Chisholm St., Alpena, MI 49707.  Please remember to indicate in the memo of your check that your donation is for the Patronicity campaign.  

Donor Judith Case said, “It’s amazing that Thunder Bay Arts Council has steadfastly supported art in our community for 50 years.Bob and I feel strongly that we want to help keep the Gallery open and keep the arts alive in Alpena.”

Go to TBA’s website at www.thunderbayarts.org.

If you have any questions, call 989-356-6678.

“We just hope we are successful with this campaign,” Connon said.