Donna and Gene Smith stand beside a sculpture called “Spot On,” by Gene Smith, at The Grafton Art Gallery May 6, 2024. The wood, called purple heart, from Knotty by Nature Hardwood in Grafton, is buffed to a sheen that required no stain. The statue stands on a slab of rock from the Smiths’ yard. The Smiths are standing in front of a collection by Lou Ann Branz, who has built a strong following exhibiting at Jacoby Arts Center and Mississippi Mud Pottery, both in Alton.
Jill Moon
GRAFTON — Art galleries have come and gone in Grafton, but the Grafton Art Gallery is here for the long haul, said owners and founders Gene and Donna Smith.
As the grand opening approaches, the gallery was buzzing with activity, with the Smiths, publicist Jacqueline Duty and artists dropping off more art, not only for exhibition but also for the quaint gift shop in the rear of the gallery.
“We’ve had incredible support from all over town,” Gene Smith said. “We are excited to bring a new vision for honoring an art district to Grafton, offering a platform for artists to showcase their work and for art lovers to discover new talents.”
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The Grafton Art Gallery, at 301 E. Main St., is open to the public and admission is free. Its grand opening Saturday, May 25, will have ribbon cuttings at 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. by the Grafton Chamber of Commerce and the RiverBend Growth Association, respectively. There will be refreshments, featured artists appearances, giveaways and a gift to every veteran who attends.
“Every other gallery charges entry fees and really high commissions,” said Smith, a lifelong Marine who served in Okinawa, Japan, from 1961-62, at the headquarters of the 3rd Division of Operations and Planning for Vietnam, serving in all for four-plus years. “We don’t do that. It’s not about money, it’s about making a difference.”
A fun cylindrical light installation is in the gallery from Gene Smith’s alma mater University of Missouri St. Louis Director of Visual Art Glen Anderson.
Jill MoonThe opening exhibit, titled Honor, is fitting for Grafton. The town honors veterans with the largest percentage (17%) per capita of veterans of any city in Illinois. Each branch of the U.S. military is represented through art at The Grafton Art Gallery.
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The curated exhibit runs through July 4 and showcases works by veterans and local artists. Guests will have the opportunity to experience a diverse range of artistic styles and mediums, from paintings and sculptures to digital art and installations.
“The Grafton Art Gallery is designed to meet audiences at the intersection of culture, patriotism and community,” said Duty, who moved to Grafton a couple of months ago. “We invite you to use the gallery as a place to find inspiration and discover new ideas. This gallery is committed to supporting emerging and established artists.”
The gallery’s focus is to get art for exhibition from veterans, students from all over the St. Louis metro area and locals not only from Grafton but surrounding towns and counties.
“Pages from a Kuwait Journal,” by veteran Mike Morrow, who now serves as the city’s mayor, is featured at the gallery. The journal contains artwork drawn in pencil by Morrow when he served in Desert Storm. Morrow will be at the gallery’s grand opening Saturday, May 25, signing copies of “Pages from a Kuwait Journal.”
Jill Moon“Our grand opening exhibition will be a celebration of creativity and expression while we honor our veterans. We invite everyone to join us for this special occasion,” Smith said.
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Smith has an art background, with a degree in art history and minors in studio art and photography, from the University of Missouri St. Louis. A fun cylindrical light installation is in the gallery from Smith’s alma mater’s Director of Visual Art Glen Anderson.
“We are reaching out to UMSL, high schools and grade schools,” said Smith who is launching an art contest at the Grafton Elementary School next week. Art from the contest will be featured at the gallery.
The Smiths have lived in Grafton for 20 years and have been married for 58 years.
“We built this gallery with a vision for expanding the art district and having a platform for building more businesses on Main Street in Grafton,” said Donna Smith, who is a Grafton alderwoman.
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The gallery’s historic limestone building complements the gallery space. It’s not too big or sprawling, and the art looks good on the angled white walls. The light hardwood floors keep the interior bright. It’s a nice place to look at art.
For more information, visit www.graftonartgallery.us or contact Jacqueline Duty at 618-541-0923 or jacquelineduty@gmail.com or Gene Smith at y043smitt@gmail.com.