The Main Street Gallery, located in the heart of the historic district in Weaverville, was originally a dry goods store constructed in 1854. Various owners operated the store until 1998, when a local artist Debee Holland renovated the building into a gallery. From 2001 to early 2011, the Trinity County Arts Council operated the gallery. Due to severe downturns in state and local funding, the Arts Council could no longer keep the gallery open. In early 2011, a group of ten Trinity County artists volunteered to take over management/ownership of the Main Street Gallery. They launched a pledge drive to gauge community support for keeping the gallery open. The response was astounding; the pledge goal of raising the amount of a year’s rent was reached within a month.
Then began an intensive several months, as they worked to establish bylaws, develop policies and procedures, renovate and upgrade the gallery, and arrange for shows and workshops. By July 1, 2011 (the date by which the gallery was due to close its doors), the new Directors took over management and ownership of the Main Street Gallery.
The gallery’s mission is to provide a quality venue for outstanding artwork and to support the arts community by providing art education opportunities and attractions for visitors in and out of Trinity County. The gallery is operated on an entirely volunteer basis. Each Director commits a major amount of time (and money) to this worthy endeavor. The volunteer Show Committee provides invaluable assistance in arranging and hanging shows and helping at Cruise Night. Volunteer docents are a valuable support to the Directors in staffing the gallery on a daily basis.
The gallery exhibits original fine artwork in such media as acrylic, oil, pastel, watercolor, graphics, photography, sculpture, and mixed media. Crafts include woodwork, fabric arts, ceramics, jewelry, glasswork, basketry, and more in both the Moon Lee Gallery and the Trinity Gallery. The wall-art shows in the Moon Lee Gallery (front gallery) change monthly. In the Trinity Gallery, members show their wall art on a four-month rotating basis. Receptions for featured artists are held on the first Saturday of each month during Weaverville's traditional Art Cruise, from 5 to 8 p.m.
