Rebuild Naomi Young's Casa de l'Arte
Donation protected
The Copper River Valley's wonderful local gallery and craft shop, Casa de la Arte, was destroyed by fire on Sunday, December 20. Naomi Young has been nurturing her dream business in a rented location while her husband Nigel works on a permanent building in Glennallen. Local builders are stepping forward to volunteer their labor, and this fund is to purchase materials to finish the building and give Casa de la Arte a chance to recover from this setback and finally have a real home.
Casa de la Arte is a community gallery, with the work of over 50 local artists and crafters sold on consignment. As well as quilters, fiber artists, painters, glass artists, beaders, and wood workers, the gallery sells the work of local writers and musicians, and even homemade soaps and salves. During the Covid crises, Naomi started making fabric masks and has sold and donated thousands, working long hours at her sewing machine with the help of her Mom.
The gallery has also been the fun setting for many art classes, nurturing the creativity and sharing the skills of our wonderful Copper Valley residents.
As well as the store and all of the consigned work, the fire destroyed the display cases and fixtures, and a multitude of art tools and supplies.
Several years ago, Naomi and Nigel purchased a lot in "downtown" Glennallen and cleaned up the derelict old buildings that stood there. Nigel has been working on a beautiful new store, including a classroom and nice big windows for lots of light. But a variety of setbacks, including his heart attack last December, have slowed down the project. It is closed in and roofed, ready to be finished.
The losses at the shop are estimated at about $30,000, and the cost of materials and electric hookup to get the new store up and running is approximately $50,000. In-kind donations of items such as building materials, display fixtures, and office equipment are welcomed but should be reviewed with Naomi and Nigel to make sure they are needed.
Thank you for your generosity! Naomi and Nigel are such generous people and thoughtful volunteers in our communities, this is an opportunity to help them recover and thrive.
Casa de la Arte is a community gallery, with the work of over 50 local artists and crafters sold on consignment. As well as quilters, fiber artists, painters, glass artists, beaders, and wood workers, the gallery sells the work of local writers and musicians, and even homemade soaps and salves. During the Covid crises, Naomi started making fabric masks and has sold and donated thousands, working long hours at her sewing machine with the help of her Mom.
The gallery has also been the fun setting for many art classes, nurturing the creativity and sharing the skills of our wonderful Copper Valley residents.
As well as the store and all of the consigned work, the fire destroyed the display cases and fixtures, and a multitude of art tools and supplies.
Several years ago, Naomi and Nigel purchased a lot in "downtown" Glennallen and cleaned up the derelict old buildings that stood there. Nigel has been working on a beautiful new store, including a classroom and nice big windows for lots of light. But a variety of setbacks, including his heart attack last December, have slowed down the project. It is closed in and roofed, ready to be finished.
The losses at the shop are estimated at about $30,000, and the cost of materials and electric hookup to get the new store up and running is approximately $50,000. In-kind donations of items such as building materials, display fixtures, and office equipment are welcomed but should be reviewed with Naomi and Nigel to make sure they are needed.
Thank you for your generosity! Naomi and Nigel are such generous people and thoughtful volunteers in our communities, this is an opportunity to help them recover and thrive.
Organiser and beneficiary
Robin Mayo
Organiser
Copper Center, AK
Naomi Young
Beneficiary