ITS Gallery? The International Truck Service Gallery, at 803 Francis St. The name might bring some criticism, but that's what we're calling it---based on an old faded "INTERNATIONAL TRUCK SERVICE" sign painted on the building above the back door. The name is fitting for its ruggedness. Owned by Json Myers, a local artist and business owner of
Goode Food-Delivered (right next door), its worn hardwood floors, plaster walls with exposed brick work well for studio work and exhibiting art with a great location in St. Joe's downtown art and entertainment district. It's amazing how a little TLC and some artwork can spruce up such a space.
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| Owner, Json Myers adds more light. |
The ITS Gallery was one of the venues for First Saturdays Downtown St. Joseph this past weekend. I and two other local artists (Candace Castle and Alice Jacks) were asked to utilize the space for the month of June. Happily to accept, we hung our work, prepped the room, gave the space its name and made our own reception for First Saturday---this all done in less than a week. We had a small crowd, but still a crowd. If we had more time to prepare and get the word out we may have brought in more people. But with a new space it's a learning process---trial and error.
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| Pastels by Brent Seevers. |
The space is fairly large and can be used in a number of ways, making it perfect for First Saturday events. Up to a dozen artists could showcase their work at one time, filling the walls with fine art. Large front windows can make an interesting display for sculptures, or a ceramist on a potter wheel, or a painter doing a painting demonstration, as people walk and drive by. The space can potentially be used for workshops, or indoor drawing/painting sessions on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. A couple of us, in the past, have had discussions on having figure drawing/painting sessions regularly to help refine our skills---adequate space was problematic. With Goode Food-Delivered next door and studio space offered upstairs which could have open studio events, the building can really become a destination for First Saturday's.
Displaying there now are a number of paintings by three of us who helped get this space up and going. Watercolors by Candace Castle, oil and pastel paintings by Alice Jacks, and pastel paintings by myself fill the front walls near the entry way. For those interested in viewing the work, the space can be opened by appointment. Just go next door to Goode Food-Delivered, they'll let you in.
ITS Gallery, 803 Francis St., St. Joseph, MO
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