BRATTLEBORO — The River Gallery School is getting ready for its fourth annual “Off the Wall” fundraiser, a popular, action-packed art lottery on Saturday, March 30, 5 to 8 p.m., at 118 Elliot Street.
More than 100 paintings are being donated by RGS staff, students, friends, and illustrious artists such as Mallory Lake, Paul Bowen, and William Hays, and many other area artists. Images and details of the available artwork are added to the RGS website until the day of the event.
A $125 lottery ticket ($100 for early birds) allows participants to choose a piece of artwork right “off the wall,” based on when their lottery number is pulled from the unique tumbler. Non-participants can pay $25 to enjoy great refreshments and watch the fast-moving process in action.
River Gallery School was founded in 1976 by Ric Campman and Barbara Merfeld Campman as a place for children to come after school to be guided and nurtured in creativity. In 1988, the school relocated to 127 Main St., with a roster of classes for both children and adults.
In 2006, the school moved again, to The Wilder Building at 32 Main St., to make classes and workshops more accessible.
In 2015, RGS expanded to an additional store-front space downstairs, providing a small community gallery and a light-filled studio for printmaking, watercolor classes, the Ability Arts program, and other RGS classes and workshops. This accessible space is available to the community for small parties and other events.
A recent grant from the Thomas Thompson Trust is enabling a sharing of art-making activities with many local agencies, the Brooks Memorial Library, and area caregivers.
The RGS Outreach Program has brought creativity to seniors and youth in locations such as The Senior Center, The Gathering Place, and area nursing homes. Other collaborations include programs with local nonprofits and area schools.
River Gallery School of Art is based on the belief that each person has artistic and creative capacities which, when nurtured, will find unique and valuable expression. Through mentoring, the school provides the techniques to develop skills, inviting art to become a vital force in one's life.