Red is Now Black

continued

Chamberlin, a former potter, was hired as the group's first paid director in 1979 and has led it ever since. She says having everything under one roof makes the center much easier to manage. And, without the Art Factory's mortgage to pay, "we are weaning ourselves from using WineFest to pay operating expenses. Our goal is for the profits of WineFest to be used solely as cash reserves."

This year, the art center also came up with a new fund-raiser: hoop-shaped bike racks that announced "art" in colorful letters. Paid for by the DDA, they've popped up all over downtown. Thirty center supporters and nearby businesses have contributed $1,000 each to sponsor a rack.   

[Originally published in November, 2009.]