May Peggy Sivert’s Gallery Succeed

What a great pleasure it was to read of Paris Zarabian’s largess to his friend Peggy Sivert--(Times, March 4) mainly because such a relationship is so rare and so needed.

Last year at the request of several artists’ groups, I made an unpaid study of the ever-growing arts and crafts movement and its markets through the southwestern United States. I was able to interview several hundred artists and crafters at fairs, swap meets, studios and space cooperatives. For the most part, the interviewees were happy with the resurgence of interest in their work but were disappointed in the quality of prospect delivered at fairs, street markets and public meets. It appeared that most artisans lacked permanent display space for their work. The display cooperative was a much sought-after marketing scheme.

I met with several groups and individuals here in the South Bay who were interested in forming such a cooperative and combining their work with other out-of-state Western crafters in a year-round, permanent exhibition and sale.

As a representative of the crafters, I sought a space in which we could mount our displays and earn our rent through sales and demonstrations by local and visiting artists and an aggressive PR program of interest to all media. We were sure we could find a property owner who would allow us to move into a space on a deferred or earn-the-rent program.

How wrong we were. When a property owner found out about our low budget, we were refused. The objections ranged from: “too much trouble” (and) “waiting for the right tenant,” to “artists are crazy and are poor risks.” Money talks to these people and we had very little buying power.

I have observed successful cooperatives in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and Oklahoma. All carry wonderful art and crafts and all have started on a shoestring budget. All had the help of an enlightened property owner with some taste and a genuine interest in promoting local artists and crafters in the community.

Many South Bay artisans need that leg up. Among us are single mothers, retirees, the physically challenged, the near-homeless, all of whom could benefit from the full-time sales of their work. There are potters, painters, quilt makers and myriad of talented others who pass by miles of vacant space that would be ideal for our efforts. Because of the lack of interest we still work out of our homes and garages because there may not be a property owner with the foresight of Mr. Zarabian.

Congratulations to Peggy Sivert, may her gallery succeed. It is my fondest hope that this type of supportive interaction will catch on. Our South Bay cities need to recapture some of the charm we once had when artists could still afford to live and work here.

LOIS DRAKE

Redondo Beach