The Artists Guild of Valparaiso formed this year and quickly signed up 75 members who were eager to exhibit their artwork. The guild is exhibiting member artists’ works in the hallways of the 150-year-old 257/259 Indiana Avenue building and established its own gallery in the historic red-brick Pennsy building at 255 Indiana Ave.

It is rotating exhibits featuring paintings, photography, mixed-media pieces and other artworks of emerging and established local artists.

Executive Secretary Colleen Zana said she and her fellow artists – husband Steve Zana and friends Peter Steeves and Michelle Steeves – were sitting around at Christmas time drinking wine and talking about how Valpo really needs a gallery for local artists to display their work. They put together the guild and got a donation of one year’s rent, giving them gallery space.

“It blew up really fast,” she said. “We change our walls each month with an average of three to six pieces sold each month. It’s a really good rate just starting out when many people don’t even know we’re here.”

Artists can exhibit at coffee shops and restaurants but the new Artists Guild of Valparaiso gallery gives them a dedicated gallery space, she said.

Members pay a $3 a month membership fee, a $10 hanging fee if their work is selected and a 15% commission if it sells.

“That’s unheard of anywhere,” she said. “Our fees are very low. The artist guild does not to make money off the artists. We have expenses but we’re doing this because it was what was needed in Valparaiso. A lot of stuff is awakening for the arts in Valparaiso.”

The Artists Guild on Valparaiso is building on artistic momentum in the city that includes the Valparaiso Creative Council’s public mural program, murals on utility boxes, the renovation of the Memorial Opera House and frequent concerts at the Central Park Plaza.

“We have a lot of artists with a lot of creativity. We have a niche that is needed downtown,” she said. “If you go downtown, there are millions of beautiful restaurants. You can go see a concert. Now you can come to an art gallery with local original artwork that’s a lot less expensive than anywhere else so people can afford it. A lower price benefits everybody and most importantly benefits the artists.”

People can stroll through the 4,000-square-foot of hallways at 257 Indiana Avenue for a self-guided tour between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily.

“It’s for people working or walking downtown so they can come in and look at the artwork at any time,” she said.

The public can go on a docent-led tour of the Main Gallery at 255 Indiana Avenue from 4-8 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.  The docents can offer arts education, answer any question and arrange for a purchase.

It’s open on weekend evenings to cater to the dinner crowd at downtown restaurants.

The exhibits rotated monthly and include all mediums, including acrylics, paintings, drawings, ink work, fabric, mixed media, photography, and sculpture. Anywhere from 40 to 70 pieces are hung in the judged exhibits, which are curated by a judge who gives out first- and second-place ribbons. 

Artists are asked to submit based on theme, such as the current exhibit of spooky works.

“We’ve got some beautiful works by some extremely talented artists,” she said. “It was definitely needed.”

Taylor does paint painting and specializes in abstract pieces. She’s been an artist all her life and considers Sara Taylor to be her favorite artist. She has exhibited widely, such as at the Elmhurst Art Guild in suburban Chicago and at Art Prize in Grand Rapids.

She’s glad she and other Northwest Indiana artists have a new venue to display their works.

“This has blown up so fast. We’re all excited about it,” she said. “It’s free to go look at some art when you’re waiting to go for dinner or going to take a girl out. You can talk about the artists and get to know someone.”

The Artists Guild of Valparaiso is open to artists from across Northwest Indiana. It would eventually like to sponsor scholarships for aspiring artists.

“We’re like-minded people who come from all levels of income and all places in life,” she said. “Artists are of all different races, creeds and colors. They’re all different but art is such a bonding experience that makes other differences just melt away. Art, community theater and music make us feel special, bring us together and see we have more things in common than differences.”

For more information, visit www.agofvalpo.com.