Creativity Center celebrates 15-year anniversary

By Caroline Rosacker 

The Guttenberg Gallery and Creativity Center is celebrating its 15-year anniversary providing resources to inspire artistic creativity in a variety of media platforms to area residents and visitors to Guttenberg. 

Retired Mental Health Counselor Cindy Olsen of Guttenberg was inspired to develop the nonprofit through her practice. She wanted to give kids options other than participation in organized sports. "Working with adults as well as children using expressive therapy, art therapy, and play therapy, I have witnessed the art of creativity as the purest form of self-expression, and the goal of counseling." she told The Press. 

That perspective and news of multiple school shootings over a relatively short amount of time became the catalyst for the successful nonprofit.  "It was my hope to reach kids who would participate in the arts as a form of self-expression, that they could own and feel part of something, a sense of community and belonging," she explained.

Idea sparks collaboration

Through collaboration with Kari Harbaugh, Cindy was able to connect with Keith Elwick who owned the building that houses the gallery and studio at 214 South River Park Drive. After meeting on site, Olsen shared her dream about creating a coffee shop managed by youth and an After School Arts program where kids could participate in fine art projects at no cost to the community, school, or the families served.

Elwick was supportive of the idea and offered Olsen the space if she pays for the utilities and taxes. The agreement was made followed by a handshake. Olsen then used her own money to begin the then – almost insurmountable project after obtaining nonprofit status. "The building was uninhabitable. The front door looked like it could blow over and the front windows had air flying through them." she recalled.

Applying for grants

Olsen quickly realized the program needed to be operational before they could apply for grant money. "Christa Hefel, Kari Harbaugh, Mandy Ludovissy, and Erin Schmelzer were a big part of moving us forward," Olsen remembered with gratitude.  "We began cleaning out the building, building a kiln room, restored the bathroom, and got rid of an old wood stove. Tire chains were used to beat off the old plaster and expose the original limestone interior walls – which then had to be tuck pointed."

Friends and family donated time, expertise, and materials to make the space workable to begin.  A collection of discarded and recycled tables and chairs set up in the (now) gallery from the local school became their beginning. A Land Contract was obtained courtesy of Mike Schuster and Olsen purchased art supplies to round out the project making them operational on the first floor. 

The Guttenberg Gallery and Studio has received three grants from the Upper Mississippi Gaming Corporation; two from the McElroy Trust; three from Clayton County Foundation for the Future; Dubuque Racing Association (DRA), and Pepsi. "I was also lucky enough to gain the support of M.J. Smith of Guttenberg who spear-headed our ability to gain benefactor support," she thankfully shared.

The nonprofit art center applied for a Pepsi voting grant two consecutive years with success in year two.  The grant was instrumental in launching their program. Olsen is grateful for all the community members that diligently voted each day. 

Building a dream

Grant money was used to completely renovate and/or restore this historic building and make it operational for this non-profit.  This included HVAC, all new wiring, all new windows and doors, plumbing, new floors, painting, paved and built an outdoor courtyard, and more.  Contractor Jason Hefel tore out the 200-year-old staircase and replaced it. He also took on the big job of turning a summer porch into a kitchen on the main floor, and a summer porch into storage on the second floor. Olsen and husband Steve Solomon tackled the upstairs, creating a welcoming well-organized space for the after-school-program. "It was challenging. We had to account for every penny we spent," she remembered.

Dream becomes reality 

Finally, Olsen was able to hire Molly Moser of Guttenberg with funds from a Community Revolving Loan. Molly has a double major in art and business and is an accomplished artist. They were the perfect combination of business acumen, entrepreneurialism, vision, and love and appreciation of the arts.

They went on to establish a Gallery on the main floor featuring area artists with artist receptions.  They provided art classes, private parties, numerous Music in the Courtyard events, Gourmet Dinners in the gallery, courtesy of Kevin and Rebecca Hennessey, and provided a highly successful After-School Arts program for 10 years at no cost to the community, school, or the families they served. 

Olsen and Moser also developed, produced, and coordinated Art by the River, a one-day outdoor event that gathered artists from across the region to Ingleside Park on the banks of the Mississippi River three consecutive years in a row.  In addition, this organization sponsored Umbrella Arts under their 501(c)3 upon request from First Lady Juanita Loven.  Umbrella Arts has since become its own 501(c)3 and the two organizations complement each other.

Keith Elwick eventually approached Olsen and encouraged her to purchase the property and building. Austin Coon at Fidelity Bank & Trust in Guttenberg was instrumental to Olsen to secure a mortgage for the nonprofit.  This organization now owns the building and there is an Endowment Fund through Clayton County to ensure the longevity of this program’s

ongoing commitment.

Olsen and Solomon are grateful for the many volunteers and benefactors who have and continue to support this program and historical building that has greatly enhanced the community. 

Ongoing events include Kids in the Kitchen, Wednesday watercolor workshops throughout the summer, and felting, stained glass, pottery and Diva Nights, which sell out and fill up fast this fall.

The studio and gallery are also available for private parties and events, and continue to raise awareness and funds for mistreated elephants in Thailand, and the local Family Resource Center.

 “So many things have happened over the past 15 years,” she concluded. “It has been a true labor of love. Many of our volunteers have been here since the very beginning.”