Gallery Route One

GRO (GALLERY ROUTE ONE) IS A NONPROFIT, COMMUNITY BASED, ARTIST-RUN ORGANIZATION WHICH PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL EXHIBITION SPACE FOR VISUAL ARTISTS IN A RURAL SETTING. THE GALLERY SERVES ITS LOCAL AND REGIONAL COMMUNITIES BY PRESENTING VARIED EXHIBITIONS OF CONTEMPORARY ART, AND OFFERS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND RELATED EVENTS SUCH AS LECTURES, PERFORMANCES AND WORKSHOPS. THE ORGANIZATION ADHERES TO A POLICY OF EQUAL ACCESS TO ARTISTS FROM MULTI ETHNIC BACKGROUNDS AND IS COMMITTED TO ASSISTING ARTISTS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS IN PRESENTING THEIR WORK TO THE PUBLIC.

IN SEPTEMBER OF 2023, WE WERE SELECTED TO HAVE A 20-YEAR RETROSPECTIVE EXHIBITIONOF PHOTOGRAPHS BY PARTICIPANTS OF THE LATINO PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT AT ART WORKSDOWNTOWN IN SAN RAFAEL.IN JANUARY OF 2024, WE KICKED OFF THE YEAR WITH AN IN-PERSON ARTIST MEMBERMEETING AND POTLUCK. MANY IMPORTANT ISSUES WERE DISCUSSED, AND GOALS SET. ANEW ARTIST MEMBER COORDINATOR WAS SELECTED AND WAS PARTNERED WITH ANOTHERARTIST MEMBER WHO WAS VOLUNTEERING TO HELP.IN APRIL OF 2024, WE APPLIED FOR GRANTS FROM THE MARIN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION(1) AND THE WEST MARIN FUND (3). WE RECEIVED 2 WMF GRANTS- ONE OPERATIONAL FOR$10,000 AND ONE FOR THE ART WALK FOR $4,000. THE WMF ASKED US TO FOCUS THESPENDING OF OUR OPERATIONAL GRANT ON STABILIZING OUR FINANCIAL SITUATION. WE ALSOHELD A SPRING APPEAL FOR THE FIRST TIME, REQUESTING FUNDING FOR THE LATINOPHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT AND FOR A FAADE IMPROVEMENT. WE MET AND SURPASSED OURGOALS FOR THAT FUNDRAISER.IN MAY OF 2024, WE HIRED 2 CO-DIRECTORS FOR THE LATINO PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT, ANDTHE PROGRAM WAS RESTARTED.IN JUNE OF 2024, CELINE UNDERWOOD WAS NOMINATED TO BECOME OUR NEW BOARDPRESIDENT. SHE WAS RATIFIED BY THE ARTIST MEMBERS ON JULY 10TH AT THEIR QUARTERLYMEETING. MEMBERS OF THE LATINO PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT HELD A SMALL FUNDRAISER THATMONTH AS WELL, DURING WESTERN WEEKEND. THAT SAME MONTH, WE STARTED THE FIRSTFRIDAY ART WALK IN POINT REYES STATION, WITH ABOUT 15 LOCAL BUSINESSESPARTICIPATING. ALSO THAT MONTH, THE LATINO PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT HAD AN EXHIBITIONAT THE BOLINAS MUSEUM, AND ALSO PRESENTED AN ARTIST TALK WITH ENGLISH/SPANISHTRANSLATION.WE PRESENTED 19 ART EXHIBITIONS, INCLUDING OUR ANNUAL JURIED EXHIBITION, BOXSHOW SILENT AUCTION, AND MEMBERS EXHIBITION. THIS EXHIBITION SCHEDULEINCLUDES OUR VISITING ARTIST PROGRAM, WHICH SHOWS NON-MEMBER ARTISTS WHOSEWORK FOCUSES ON THE ENVIRONMENT, SOCIAL JUSTICE AND IMMIGRATION CONCERNS. INJANUARY OF 2024, ONE OF OUR NEW FELLOWS HAD A SHOW IN OUR ANNEX GALLERY. INFEBRUARY OF 2024, THE OTHER FELLOW HAD A SHOW, PLUS, WE HAD A SHOW OF ARTISTSFROM ART WORKS DOWNTOWN AS AN EXCHANGE FOR THEIR HOSTING OF AN LPP SHOW.WE HOSTED 5 ONLINE PRODUCTIONS OF THE ARTISTS EXCHANGE IN WHICH HOST, PAMELABLOTNER FINDS 2 ARTISTS WHO SHARE THEIR WORK AND ENGAGE IN CONVERSATION. THEAUDIENCE MADE UP OF MOSTLY ARTISTS GATHER TO LEARN ABOUT THE ARTISTS CONCEPTS ANDPROCESSES, AND THEN ARTIST OPPORTUNITIES ARE SHARED WITH THE GROUP AT THE END.THIS REFLECTS OUR DESIRE TO BRING MORE VISIBILITY TO THE GALLERY, AND TO REACH MOREARTISTS.OUR ARTISTS IN THE SCHOOLS PROGRAM HELD ITS ANNUAL CULMINATING ART EXHIBITION OFSTUDENTS ARTWORK AT TOBYS FEED BARN IN POINT REYES STATION THAT KICKS OFFDURING WESTERN WEEKEND FESTIVITIES IN TOWN.