Blair and her family have been pillars of our community for years, dedicating themselves to the arts and to helping others. When Steve Gibbs, the beloved founder of The Art Spirit Gallery, became ill with ALS, he entrusted Blair with the gallery’s future. After Steve’s passing on New Year’s Eve 2016, Blair took ownership on January 1, 2017, determined to keep this cherished institution alive for Coeur d’Alene—with her husband Jim and their daughter by her side.

Together, Blair and her family faced challenge after challenge. By 2019, Blair hoped to step back and spend more time with their daughter, but the pandemic hit just as she was preparing to transfer ownership. The bank pulled funding, and Blair and Jim used their own home equity to keep the gallery afloat. In early 2021, disaster struck again when a massive flood destroyed tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of art. Despite being in a wheelchair since she was 13, Blair never let her disability slow her down, and her family supported her every step of the way. They worked tirelessly to recover from the flood and keep the gallery open, but the challenges kept mounting.

By 2023, Blair made the difficult decision to close the gallery. Multiple groups tried to help, but deals fell through, and legal battles and predatory loans only deepened their financial struggles. On top of this, Blair now cares for her mother, who has dementia, at home. Through it all, Blair and her family have continued to give back—helping local schools, supporting artists, and connecting people throughout our town. Now, as they face overwhelming debt and the end of a chapter, it’s our turn to support them. Your help will allow Blair and her family to pay off their debts, care for her mother, and finally rest without the weight of financial worry. Let’s come together and show Blair, Jim, their daughter, and her mother the same kindness they’ve shown all of us.