Ion Art: Arts and Culture magazine

by Zeek Taylor

“We are not a co-op gallery in the truest sense,” said Poor Richard’s Art co-owner Clarice Moore, “but we operate with a tremendous amount of artist participation in all aspects of our operation.”

Located in one of downtown Rogers’ most historical buildings, Poor Richard’s Art offers gallery exposure for area artists while encouraging their involvement in every facet of the business. By serving on one of ten oversight committees, artist volunteers focus on the non-profit organization’s mission “to nurture and present innovative art of uncommon quality in all types of media from Northwest Arkansas.”

Another focus of the gallery’s mission is to preserve the 1907 building, now on the National Registry of Historic Places, which houses the gallery and to promote the economic development of Historic Downtown Rogers. For its efforts, Poor Richard’s Art received the Rogers- Lowell Chamber of Commerce “Business in the Arts” award.

Clarice Moore grew up in Rogers and operated Speaco Foods Inc. with her partner, Jack Cole, before retiring to Florida in 2000. She often returned to Rogers to visit her daughter Mary Schopp. During frequent visits, Clarice realized a desire to give something back to her hometown. While serving on the city council in the early ‘70s, she witnessed the destruction of the Frisco train station due to lack of city funds. Remembering the town’s loss, she decided preserving a downtown historic building would be a good way to “give back.”

Moore leased the building that originally housed the Applegate Drug Store and, later, Poor Richard’s Gifts and Confectionary at 116 South First Street. With the help and support of her daughter Mary, she transformed the structure into a gallery. The interior of the building was kept intact, leaving in place the original mahogany woodwork,ceramic tile floors, counters, soda fountain and tin ceilings.

Working with friends in the business and art community who appreciated her vision, Clarice soon had eager participants, helping make her mission a reality. Artists wishing to exhibit in the gallery were interviewed, and their work reviewed by a qualified jury. It didn’t take long to stock Poor Richard’s Art Gallery with quality work: paintings, pottery, jewelry, handcrafted furniture, fabric art, basketry, stained glass and various other forms of locally made items.

Exhibiting artists have the option of working in the gallery in exchange for lower commission rates on the sale of their work. A sliding scale was developed, so the more hours an artist spends on the floor, the less the artist gives in commission to the gallery. Several artists were receptive to the option, resulting in a knowledgeable staff helping serve customers seeking art.

Ten artists are on the executive committee of Poor Richard’s Art with assignments that include public relations, inventory control, scheduling and defining procedures and policies. Several of the artists chair sub-committees, overseeing design, art selection and inventory control. Volunteers also co-ordinate and hang exhibits in other locations including the Rogers Little Theater, Zephyr Blevin’s Gallery and Julie Wait Designs.

Another factor making Poor Richard’s Art a success is the quality of work on display. Well-known exhibiting artists include painter Johnny Ware, awardwinning potters Jim Young and Mark Rademacher, wood turner Harold Stoner, furniture designer Myron Williams and silversmith Mary Stewart.

On occasion, Stewart has demonstrated jewelry making techniques during weekends in the gallery. Artists demonstrating on site, special shows and receptions, fill a busy calendar of events scheduled throughout the year by Poor Richard’s Art. At any given time, artists are in the gallery, ready and willing to show their work and talk about the work of others.

War Eagle stained glass artist Hank Barnes is one of the volunteer artists working in the gallery. “Possibly the most rewarding part of being a contributing staff member is working with Clarice and Mary and experiencing their sincere dedication to Poor Richard’s,” said Barnes. Hank notes that artists who “work the floor” sell more of their own work. “The public really likes to meet and talk with the person who made the item,” he said.

Barnes says he experiences good sales through the gallery and delights in the fact he can show closer to home. He spends less time crating his glass for distant venues. Besides working with customers, Hank is on the committee overseeing inventory, maintaining the facility and scheduling.

Visitors to the gallery enjoy the friendly and casual atmosphere and the “something for everyone” price range. Because of the gallery’s successful advertising and promotion campaign, local customers are now joined by an increasing number of out-of-state tourists.

One weekly visitor is John Applegate, grandson of the druggist who built the store more than 100 years ago. John, now in his mid-eighties, followed in the footsteps of his grandfather and his father, working as a pharmacist at the historic location. He returns to the building on South First Street every Tuesday to rewind the large grandfather clock still in place from days long ago.