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Creative expression welcome at new art space in McCook
McCOOK, Neb. — A vintage McCook building that was used as a hardware store/lumber yard, hotel and a cafe will now be a space for area artists to create and display their work.
The two-story brick building at 103 Norris Ave., called the Barnett Building, is at the corner of Norris Ave. and A Streets, directly across from McCook’s railroad depot. It was first built for the Barnett Lumber Company and owned by A. ‘Albert’ Barnett, who was responsible for providing the lumber of the majority of McCook’s first homes. The building was also used through the years as a rooming house for railroad employees, a cafe and most recently, a hair salon. Purchased by Chad Graff and Joann Falkenburg of McCook, the building will be used for for exhibitions, artist studios, classes and anything else artists can come up with, said Karrie Steely.
An artist from Hendley, Neb., Steely said a space for area artists to meet was a dream she and Cambridge artist, Ryan Cramer, had been searching for. For the past eight years, she’s worked from her studio, an old country schoolhouse in Hendley, but found she could grow as an artist when she connected with other artists.
“I wanted a place for artists to share their vision, with the intent of creating opportunities for them to work or share their experiences.…kind of a collaborative space for kindred souls to create,” she said. The Barnett Building will be a place for artists “who need a place where they fit in, create a network to find their people.”
It will have its first opening at the Buffalo Commons Storytelling Festival this weekend with the exhibition, “Artist as Storyteller,” featuring six area artists. A reception for the artists is Friday night, with the gallery open to the public on Saturday and Sunday, June 11-12. It’s also one of the stops on the McCook Community College art tour on Friday.
Artists are: Kris Allphin, Hastings, Neb., batik artist; Ryan Cramer, Cambridge, surrealist ink and prints; Rebel Mahien, Colby, Kan., painter, mixed media; Angela Muller, Russell, Kan., textural art inspired by nature; Jack Sandeen, Hastings, printer/artist; Steely, mixed media.
The artists featured use diverse ways to express themselves, Steely said. “I selected them because of the scope, vision and depth of their work and their artistic process. Each artist expresses their unique relationships to the landscape of the prairie through their art, and in doing so, they share their stories.”
How the Barnett Building will be used is still in the planning stages, she said. “It’s pretty amorphous right now, it’s going to depend a lot on who shows up and what they want to do, so it will take on life of its own,” Steely said. “It won’t be too structured, as artists by their nature tend not to be very structured sometimes.” But any creative expression is welcome, she said. Art classes for students is planned later this month in the building.
Downstairs, it can be used by artists to work on projects or for display purposes. Upstairs, 12 rooms, some with natural light, will be available for individual studios, whether for a student, stay-at-home-mom or an artist who’s run out of space. And it will be offered free of charge, no strings attached.
Steely is a studio artist, instructor and writer living with her partner on a farmstead in Hendley Originally of Colorado, she earned a bachelor of arts degree from Colorado State University Fort Collins and has worked as a graphic designer, muralist and ceramics instructor. She teaches art at the McCook Art Guild and at traveling workshops.
Artists connect with others through their art and the Barnett Building will be a place to encourage that, she said. “Let us know what your vision is, we’ll help you,” Steely said. “If this is something you want to be involved with, we’d love to have you.” For more information, contact her at “Southwest Nebraska Art” on Facebook or call (303)257-4763.