Klamath Art Association & Gallery

On Dec. 16, 1946, articles of incorporation as a nonprofit organization were filed for the Klamath Art Association by Bloomquist (KU drama teacher/artist, Sheldon and Catherine Brumbaugh (architect & photographer), Vern Swansen (art teacher/artist), Helen Ballentine (artist/attorney’s wife) and Dr. and Mrs. Sprague (dentist & professional artist.)
In July 1947 the first officers were elected. President Vern Swansen, Vice President Elsie McNee, Secretary Catherine Brumbaugh, Treasurer Art Reinhart. The first board of directors also included attorney Clayton Burell, city schools art director Robert Bannister, artist Helen Ballentine, the Reverend Godfrey Matthews (Congregational Church), and the Reverend Fred Wissenbach (St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.
Their first official function was an open air exhibit in Moore park that summer. It was the first group of it’s kind in Oregon to sponsor annual summer art workshops attracting nationally known artists and teachers. KAA offered the first off-campus Art Summer School workshops in the state for granting college credit through Oregon Technical Institute. Also cooperating where the General Extension Division, the University of Oregon, Oregon State College and South Oregon College of Education. Low-cost noncredit classes were also offered in all media.
The first 12 years involved constant moving from one temporary location to the next. Locations included the KUHS Little Theater, the Brumbaugh Studio in Pine Grove, the Art Center Store owned by Bob Bannister (KUHS art instructor) the old OTI site up the hill for summer workshops, vacant store buildings for the Christmas art fairs, and any spot available for exhibits. From 1950-1958 they obtained permission to meet in and use the former recreation building at the World War II Naval Housing Ponderosa School.
In 1959, Oregon’s Centennial year, the Centennial Arts Commission awarded KAA one of the few cash grants to be used towards establishing a permanent location for a gallery. The grant of $3,750 required matching funds and land for the gallery. Roberta “Bloomy” Bloomquist and Rita Glesin walked door to door downtown asking for donations, contacted mills, lumber yards, and building suppliers. Within three weeks they had secured twice as much in dona ions and pledges as was required for the grant match.
With the funds assured, KAA approached the city council to ask for a site in a city park to build, possibly Veteran’s Park. When Mrs. Rufus Moore died in 1946. she willed her property at the corner of Main and Riverside to the city to be used as parkland. Two councilmen were especially eager to see this happen and suggested that the art group take over Maple Park and the Moore House, which the Moore heirs were threatening to take back. The Council unanimously approved this proposal and a 20 year lease was signed and renewed again 20 years later with a 99 year lease. Councilmen Oliver Spiker and Walt Fleet were especially pleased thinking this would save the site as a park.
A gallery design and plans were drawn and donated by local architect Nina Pence, KAA member, and the gallery was built in the side yard next to the historic Moore house. Guy Malotte was the builder.
The KAA Gallery opened with Mayor Slater cutting the ribbon in February 27th, 1960. The Herald and News Progress Edition published a special supplement about this event. The gallery has remained open and in continuous use, with no admission fee, since that date. The Association has showcased a vast variety of works from local and national artists.
The Moore House was extensively remodeled for classroom space, and provided areas for painting, drawing, ceramics, sculpture, and weaving.
From 1967 to 1972, the Oregon Arts Commission, through the National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities, granted KAA a total of $3,500 for help in offering art classes at reduced rates or free. Classes were available to many people who could not have otherwise afforded them; especially the elderly and gifted youth.
The Moore House eventiually ended up back in the hands of the Moore family, and the gallery lost its classroom space.

~ Information supplied by Nina Pence, Jeanne McBeth, and many unnamed contributors. Written by past President Peggy Gratzler and edited by Jonne Goeller