Locally funded renovations to exterior of Walnut Gallery currently in progress

The Walnut Gallery in downtown Gadsden currently is closed because of renovations, and it'll be a little while before anyone interested in seeing its myriad works of art on exhibit will be able to.

According to the executive director, Mario Gallardo, the task will keep the doors closed on the Walnut Gallery, which is located at 806 Walnut Street, for the entirety of June and "possibly several weeks into July."

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The project is something that has been a long time in the making and badly needed, Gallardo said. It's also an investment in remembering and honoring the past, now and in the future.

"We have always planned on an exterior renovation, but we have waited until we had the funding to do it right," he explained. "Slapping on a fresh coat of paint was not an option. We are taking off the old paint and preparing the wood to be repainted. That includes sanding, caulking, patching and replacing damaged and rotted wood. The work will ensure that the building is preserved for the next generation.

"Part of our mission is to preserve our community's unique cultural heritage," Gallardo said. "In this case, it means preserving architecture and ensuring that the former church (the building formerly housed Gadsden's Christian Science church) continues to serve as a cultural anchor for the community. The renovation is a symbol of our community's resiliency, vitality and commitment to honoring and preserving our history."

The building's interior won't need any work at this time, as Gallardo stated it was restored in 2013, along with the roof. "We've had a shabby chic exterior and a finely appointed interior. Now, our exterior will be something that the community can be proud of," he said.

Local folks have played a big role in helping the gallery get the cash needed to culminate the long-term plan, and Gallardo expressed his gratitude to all those who have helped and will help with the work.

"Fortunately, we received several community development grants from District 28 and 29 that helped get the project underway," he said. "We are especially grateful to Rep. Gil Isbell and former Rep. Becky Nordgren for their support of this project, but also the gallery's programs through the years. We are also raising funds through our Facebook account.

"The public has been very responsive," Gallardo added. "We raised $3,000 in a day. We are hoping for at least another $2,000 to help cover the expenses of the renovation."

In addition to acquiring the money needed for the remodeling, Gallardo, in what he called "an exciting time," said the Walnut Gallery now has funding for another big step once the renovations are completed.

"Thanks to the support of the Alabama State Council on the Arts, South Arts and the State of Alabama CARES funding, we are positioned to return to our pre-COVID schedule of exhibitions, programs and events," he stated.

For more information on the Walnut Gallery, visit its website at https://www.walnutgallery.org/.

J.J. Hicks is a news reporter at The Gadsden Times. He can be reached at jhicks1@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Walnut Gallery renovations underway, should be completed in July