The gallery at First UU began with approximately 20 artists in 1966 and has since grown into an annual juried art gallery and sale. From September 28 to October 28. 2 this year, the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Richmond will transform the first floor of its one-block building into a gallery and showcase the work of more than 160 local artists.
The display and sale comes after a two-year hiatus during the pandemic as social distancing guidelines affected religious gatherings. The feeling of disconnection was amplified by other losses.
“Our dear Reverend Jeanne Pupke passed away in an accident in February this year, so our congregation mourns this loss very much,” said church member and volunteer Rachel Lawrence. She adds that the church also misses the presence of Kathleen Van Paasschen and Peter Ericson, two church members and gallery volunteers who died in 2020 and 2021 respectively.
“We have big holes in our community that we’re trying to overcome…and we’re trying to create something beautiful,” Lawrence says.
This year the gallery will feature a variety of works including paintings, hand-bound books, jewelry and pottery; all were submitted by artists to the six gallery directors who act as jurors. A third of the profits go to the church.
Susan Singer has been a returning artist for about 10 years. She will be showcasing her pastel paintings, jewelry and a pattern play she invented called “Triangle Play” at this year’s gallery.
“The fact that I can just drop off my work and know it’s going to be treated well, and then come back and pick it up and get a paycheck, that’s very compelling,” Singer said. “It’s a great show. It’s fantastically done, and the atmosphere is really great; the people are nice and it’s so well organized.
Volunteer Ginjer Clarke experiences mixed feelings about returning to start the gallery after two years filled with loss. While she’s thrilled to have the gallery back, she’s eager to fill all the volunteer quarters to run a smooth event, she says.
“A lot of people have been disconnected for various reasons, and we’re still working to get people back,” Clarke says. “We’ve lost people, so we’re worried about whether we can get there and whether people will come.”
Clarke helps run the gallery as Store Manager by designing and working in the retail store. In her first year, she was an installation and design volunteer responsible for decorating a wall with art. “I loved it,” she says. “I had no idea it was something I wanted to do so badly.” One weekend of volunteering turned into more than 15 years of volunteering.
“It was actually [Kathleen Van Paasschen’s] husband who predeceased her, Ian Finlayson, who gave me this very first wall to work on,” Clarke says.
Van Paasschen was responsible for registering artists, handling inventory and assisting artists before her death in early 2020. artists,” Clarke says. “She always wore those hats that look like [those worn by] court jesters, with the bell.
While Van Paasschen had been volunteering at the gallery for over 20 years, Peter Ericson was newer to the First UU community, but we still miss him dearly. Ericson and his wife, Linda, became involved with the gallery after moving to Richmond to be closer to family.
“Peter was one of those rock-solid guys,” Clarke says. “He volunteered for everything in the church, and whatever Reverend Jeanne asked him to do, he would step in and do it.”
Jeanne Pupke, who had served as chief minister since 2006, was loved by many, Clarke says. Pupke had planned to leave First UU before the pandemic hit to help other churches, but she decided to stay and help her community through the rise of COVID-19. She planned to work until May this year before leaving Richmond to travel with his wife, Regina Largent. Pupke was unable to carry out his plans due to his sudden death.
“She showed up for all kinds of social justice actions and protests,” Clarke says. “She showed up for everyone and she was always on the front line, putting herself in danger.
“I just think we kind of lost our rudder,” adds Clarke. “We just float.”
The gallery’s return provides an opportunity for church members and Richmond residents to come together and strengthen ties after two years of loss.
“Every show is a little different, but this one has a lot of new parts, a lot of new people, and a lot of missing pieces,” says Clarke. “I’m more excited than ever because we need it.”
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