My name is Bev, and in 2007 I was hired to work at Global Village Gallery. I did not know at that time that becoming part of the store was to feel like family. Donald and Mary became very dear, supporting members of my life circle, and that seems to be the way that everyone who knows them is affected. I am a minor member of a major Global Village community built over the years through Global Village Gallery in Arcata.

On January 2, 2025, a fire totally destroyed the building containing Global Village Gallery, with a collection of art that had been gathered from all over the world for over 30 years, with each piece carrying a sentimental or humorous history that Don would tell to people who asked.

Don and Mary had created a business that required that they visit distant and interesting parts of the Globe and interact with artisans, traders, and collectives whose only livelihood was based on what they could make and sell to the larger world. Every wall, countertop, hallway, and corner of Global Village Gallery were filled with beauty, culture, intention, and the wonderful stories.

Global relationships were forged and maintained with women's support collectives making batiks in Bali or collectives in Peru or Guatemala creating shawls, handbags and purses to support their children, each other, and to feed their families. Donald always operated in fair trade and made sure that the artists he supported were making a livable income from their work. He introduced the northwestern corner of California to the vision paintings of artists from the Amazon region of the world, and helped to interweave each piece of our Global Village to another with love and purpose.

The shop was a hub for cultural and artistic creation and connection as musicians from our area and all over the world would come to play and perform and make friendships. Mary's food is famously delicious and was always abundant at gatherings where the door would be open and the world would be welcomed inside.

So many of our community could tell stories of their times at Global Village Gallery for years. We could probably write a book of stories!

Last Friday, In one afternoon, a life's accumulation of paintings, fabrics, statues, and so much more was gone! More than that, 30 years of history, memories of making friends and connections that this local shop was known for were gone up into smoke, and locally hearts are broken for the loss of such a warm meeting place that Donald and Mary have provided to the community for decades.

Sadly, the timing could not have been more tragic as many of the paintings and art were about to be moved from this location to another, and unfortunately a fire fed by very strong winds destroyed the whole structure, and turned a life's collection of art and global magic into ashes.

Many locals and even many distant friends are heartbroken at this loss for our friends who have provided so much love and so much support to all of us over the years, and I want us to be able to return that love and support to help Donald and Mary in going forward while processing such a loss.

Please share your support and your own stories about this wonderful place where we all made so many memories. Help as much as you are able, and please share this link and your own Global Village Gallery memories, and with all of our love and contributions... Donald can carry on knowing that we are here for him as he has always been there for us.