Gallery Up to close doors

By Monica Kreber
kreberm@mytjnow.com

Locals are still in discussion over what to do with the former workspace of Gallery Up, located in downtown Rock Hill. Winthrop students used to find job and internship opportunities through the business. Photos by Sarah Auvil • auvils@mytjnow.comWhen he was still an illustration major, Stephen Crotts, a 2008 Winthrop graduate, said Gallery Up acted as a bridge between Winthrop and the Rock Hill community.

“It was one of the things that got me involved in town in general,” he said. “It brought me downtown and sort of initiated my interest in local businesses.”

Gallery Up, a local show room/frame shop that showcased the work of artists in York County [as well as Winthrop students] for over seven years, has announced it is closing for good.

The business left an impact for Crotts, who said he was not necessarily “shocked” when he heard the news, but was “disappointed for sure.”

“It’s sad to see it go,” he said. “Gallery Up has been in Rock Hill as a sort of premiere place to gather and view art…and meet artists.”

Crotts is part of an art group called Friday Arts Project, which started at Winthrop. The group, Crotts said, meets regularly to discuss, critique and support each others’ artwork.

Crotts said Friday Arts Project is in the process of moving out of its studio space across the street from where Gallery Up used to be (in downtown Rock Hill). The group is trying to figure out what can be done with Gallery Up’s former space.

Crotts also said the goal is to partner with other groups in the community to find a way to keep “something going on” in the space where Gallery Up was.

“It will be different, I’m sure,” he said. “We don’t want it to be the same; Gallery Up was just at such an excellent level and there is no need to imitate that. We would want to do something fresh and different but hopefully honor their (Gallery Up’s) legacy and keep something going.”

Former Gallery Up owner Tamara LaValla (who operated Gallery Up with her husband) said the business is closing in order “to redirect the future of our artistic endeavors.”

“We are closing as a way to pursue new creative opportunities, both professionally and personally,” LaValla said. “Gallery Up is stronger than it’s ever been but it is time for our model of ‘demanding art’ to evolve.”

The last Gallery Up reception was held Friday, Feb. 10. The last day that art was posted for sale was Friday, Feb. 17. LaValla said the business will be open for artists and customers to pick up work and to sell furniture and fixtures through the last day of the month.

“We hope that Winthrop’s students, faculty and alumni will continue to build upon the momentum we have created together over the years,” she said.

LaValla also said Gallery Up’s closing has no relation to South Carolina’s government’s alleged aversion to keeping arts around.

“This has always been a private venture and we have programmed up with as little financial assistance as necessary,” she said.

Over the years Winthrop students have found internships and job opportunities through Gallery Up. LaValla said such opportunities will no longer be available, but The Loading Dock space is still in existence for those that are “interested in a presence” in the Gettys Art Center.

“I’m certain other opportunities will be available for WU students,” LaValla said.

LaValla said she will miss many things about Gallery Up but looks forward to returning to her personal work and having more time to attend events at Winthrop.

“I am proud of what we have been able to accomplish over the years for so many talented artists as well as for the community in which we live,” she said.

LaValla added that she and her partner thought long and hard about making the decision to close and feel it is the right thing to do.

“We are hopeful that our efforts can be the beginning of a larger, sustainable arts movement in this area,” she said.

Tom Stanley, department chair of Fine Arts, said the faculty members at Winthrop will miss the collaboration and partnership LaValla and Gallery Up had with the school.

“It was the best and most challenging gallery in downtown,” he said. “It helped step up the level of professionalism in the small art scene downtown.”

Stanley said he does not think there will be any impact on art students trying to find jobs or internships.

“There may be a small, short term impact,” he said, “but our students are pretty resourceful and they will find other opportunities as they currently do via our internship classes and a variety of opportunities not only in Rock Hill but our internship placement in Charlotte, Columbia and Charleston.”

Stanley said the decision of Gallery Up closing was not anticipated, but he is looking forward to what the owners will bring next to the community at large.

“(The closing) was a respected decision on the part of the owners who will continue to be friends of Winthrop and the Fine Arts Department,” he said.