Between October 22 and November 23 the Carnegie Arts Center will be hosting an exhibit honoring the late Gretchen Garwood in the Studio Gallery. Pieces in the show include paintings and sketches created during Gretchen’s life as an artist.
Alongside a dedicated team of innovative and ambitious local individuals Gretchen Garwood brought the Carnegie Arts Center to life.
To pass the time while caring for her son, Mike, after his accident in 1973, Gretchen started to paint. For the next 40-plus years her artistic abilities improved and flourished. Her artistic creations have hung on the walls of relatives, friends, acquaintances, and businesses. Gretchen was instrumental in bringing about the Carnegie Arts Center in Alliance. Her dream began in 1985 and along with other Alliance residents in the idea of an arts center was formed to provide cultural experiences for all ages. The Carnegie Library Building was scheduled for demolition and before that could happen, the 1911 building was purchased for $24,000. Grants were written, local support was received, and over $250,000 was spent on renovation. In March of 1993, after two years of legal work and six years of remolding, a grand opening was held. In 2008, the west wing was dedicated as the Gretchen Garwood Gallery. Gretchen served on the board of directors and the endowment committee.
In 2000, Gretchen received the Diana Nelson Volunteer of the Year in the Arts Award. She, along with 11 others, was honored at the Nebraska First Lady, Stephanie Johanns’ luncheon.
One of Gretchen’s favorite stories was bout the early days of the Carnegie Library when the building’s roof was in disrepair, and severe storms would cause flooding. Gretchen and Peggy Weber would take matters into their own hands, venturing to the newspaper office to collect day-old newspapers. With those, they’d soak up the water in the building before heaving the soggy stacks of papers back out. Their first fundraisers they didn’t have enough plates for salad and dessert, so they’d have to rush plates back into the kitchen to wash and dry before bringing out the next course. Gretchen not only put her intelligent mind to work building Carnegie, but also her blood, sweat, and tears.
More than anything, Gretchen cultivated Carnegie Arts Center with boundless love. The countless individuals who have devoted decades to building and nurturing every aspect of this institution are a testament to the love they share for one another, for this place, and nurturing every aspect of this institution are testament to the love they share for one another, for this place, and for the profound impact it has on people’s lives. Carnegie is a labor of love, and oh man, is it easy to fall in love with. With that same loving spirit that breathed life into their dream turned reality, we will continue to honor our founder, our leader, and dear friend, Gretchen Garwood.