A series of articles has been planned to reacquaint Gallery followers and area residents of the status and a little history of The Chanute Art Gallery. The Gallery is located at 17 N. Lincoln in Chanute Kansas. On the morning of April 4, 2025, the facility was found to be in total disarray. Every glass display case had been smashed, the furniture had been thrown about, and in the office/ storage area for the Core Collection of the Gallery had been thrown off the shelves and the copier, laptop and Computer were destroyed or damaged. Covering everything in the four buildings was a thick layer of fire extinguisher dust and glass shards. While the Chanute Police Department was gathering and evaluating the evidence, Board members gathered and began to plan for a second rebirth.
This is at least the second rebirth of the Gallery during its 52-year history, having opened in July 1973 in the Tioga Hotel with Ellie McCoy leading the way. A long list of the ladies of Chanute who were the movers and shakers of the time for the cultural activities in Chanute supplied the drive and organization to create The Chanute Art Gallery. A few are still alive such as 99-year-old Karol Good. Other families remember fondly their matriarch’s giving leadership to the Gallery. The Gallery moved to the current location during the downtown revitalization program begun by City Manager Robert Walker and the Commission in the 1990s. That move completed a complex of locations for visitors to begin their exploration of the treasurers of Chanute. The first rebirth was when Mrs. McCoy could no longer “do everything”. A group of volunteers began the process of getting the Gallery open again. Alicia Fickel provided the leadership, Diane Good, the organizational expertise, Karol Good, Betty McCready, Judy Steffen, Hugh Huffman, Karri Reeves and a few others began to create the work force to reopen the Gallery.
People volunteering their time and talent are the life force of the Gallery; there is no paid staff. The Board of Directors is comprised of working members who each can find their niche. As a working Board, a variety of skills are needed in the day-today operations. Each member of the Board accepts an area of responsibility and enlists the help of other volunteers to get the work done, all the while working in harmony with other Board members and volunteers. One of the most important groups of volunteers is the Docents. Connie Woodard is in her second year of being the Docent Chair. She is doing an excellent job of having someone committed to being on duty each day and hour the Gallery is open. During this current unplanned time of being closed, Connie has kept the Docents aware of the recovery plans and will be ready to get the schedule filled when that wonderful day comes when the Gallery can reopen.
The Gallery has already been deep cleaned of the glass shards and fire-extinguisher- dust that covered everything. Currently, the list of what needs to be done is still long. It involves the replacement of all the display cases’ glass that was broken, the new carpeting has been ordered and will be installed, and repairs of the damaged interior walls and window are being done or are scheduled. The future is looking bright for the Gallery thanks to the commitment of countless groups and individuals.
