Fine art in a little town

I surveyed the cold, crowded room with a look of worry and hesitation. Row after row of wooden cubbyholes - containing objects covered in plastic bubble wrap - overwhelmed both my eyes and the intense need I felt to pop the wrap, which concealed all the objects in the room. As I listened to instructions - about how to do what, where what goes, and all that other stuff that comes with working in a new environment - I tried to hide my enthusiasm about just getting my fingers on that stupid bubble wrap. I had volunteered myself for a semester as an assistant register at an art museum. If you can believe it, that art museum was located in Eureka. Yep, that's right, Eureka.

The North Coast has always offered an abundance of activities and sights for the people who live within its redwood curtain. Everyone has their favorite beach, their favorite hiking trail, and their favorite place to visit. Moonstone beach is beautiful, and the forest has endless amounts of trails yet to be discovered. In an area so abundant with nature, few expect beauty to be found indoors - myself included. This place I'm referring too is lined with walls covered with beauty, creativity and culture. The Morris Graves Museum of Art is not to be underestimated. This place offers solitude and enlightenment for those who are willing to let it. And for a semester, I went behind the scenes to unwrap the beauty in Humboldt's own art world.

The museum may be one of Eureka's best kept secrets. But with the ever-growing artist population in and around Humboldt County, their secret is soon to be revealed. Located in the downtown area, the Carnegie Library stands among many of Eureka's abandoned historic buildings. A short flight of stairs leads up to the old wooden door of the nostalgic building, left from the days of Humboldt past. With a push, the heavy doors of the old building open, and the museum unfolds before the eye as a piece of Eureka's history.

Artists and art enthusiasts stroll through the gorgeous halls of the Morris Graves Museum of Art to admire the area's best collection of works. photo courtesy of the Morris Graves Museum of Art

On Jan. 1, 2000, an exhausted and excited staff began the life they now know: running the only art museum between San Rosa and Arcata. Under the direction of Debbie Goodwin, executive director of the Humboldt council for the arts, the community-sponsored display of art began. In Humboldt County, 55 percent of all adults consider themselves artists, which is amazing. And in addition, the art program at Humboldt State University has nearly doubled in size over the last 10 years. That makes for a huge community of artists and art lovers. Why then is this museum so unknown too most, when the interest in art is clearly apparent within our community?

I will try and tell you why. Some people are not interested in the art museum because of the preconceived that it's a boring and somewhat static place, which is anything but true to me. After all, I spent a semester cataloging works, developing condition reports, and locating each piece in a particular cubbyhole - not exactly the most thrilling of jobs. Yet I found my internship to be of personal advantage. I also discovered the advantages an art museum offers the North Coast.

Art museums are traditionally located in big cities, and the thought of one in a little place such as Humboldt County is fairly unheard of. Yet as the museum continues to grow, so does its support and involvement within the community and the university. The museum showcases works from local artists, student artists, and even children. The Morris Graves Museum of Art offers a place for this county to display its many talented residence, as well as encourages the growth of the arts as a whole.

Who the heck is the Morris Graves anyway? I wondered as I sorted through many paintings he once had in his private collection. Obviously he isn't as well known as Picasso or Monet, but he must have done something famous to have even a small museum named after him.

The museum's namesake is considered one of the 20th century's minor masters. His donation of artwork and money amount to an estimated sum of $1 million. This, and his reputation as a master of the north west school of art, brought his name to the museum. Graves' work is displayed throughout the museum during different times of the year. Some paintings belong to the museum's permanent collection, while others are on loan from individuals and private collectors. Graves' own work seems to illuminate mystery, while the softness of his pallet and the ease of his lines call out appealingly to the viewing eye. He now resides in Loleta, choosing the seclusion of the redwoods even after traveling to almost every country in the world.

This exhibit is the only one of its caliber from the North Bay to Humboldt Bay. photo courtesy of the Morris Graves Museum of Art

The interest Morris Graves took in the art of our area echoes the support of Humboldt resident's own efforts. The museum is only on its first year of operation, and as with any new business, it is still trying to stay on its feet.

"Community interest and support has been incredible," says Debbie Goodwin. "Around 2,000 people have come through the doors in the months of January and February. And with the Arts Alive program held every first Saturday of the month, 2,500 more attend in just one evening."

Working in the basement of an art museum is not actually conducive to meeting much of the staff. During my internship, I never had the chance to mix with many of the employees, because I was shut working in a little storage room. I was briefly introduced to Goodwin and a few others at the start. But after sitting down later and talking with her about the museum, I came to find that I wished I had gotten know her a bit better.

Goodwin has been involved in the non-profit business for over 20 years and she sees "the museum as a great contribution to the wealth of the people in the community."

She also acts as the spokesperson for the Humboldt Arts Council, and she is responsible for the publication of Palette magazine, which distributes 25,000 copies yearly to help promote the arts. With a permanent collection of 550 objects to look after and put onto exhibit - as well as overseeing the arts council - Goodwin appears to have more then enough work cut out for her. To me - she emerges through all of this as completely dedicated to helping support the arts, handling her position with the utmost ease and grace, and continuing to help bring culture and enlightenment to the North Coast.

More than anything, this museum's opening allows students (like myself) the chance to see what jobs in their own futures may look like. With so many art students on our campus, it is ridiculous to think we've had to wait this long to get a glimpse into the world that we either hope to be hung up in or working for. The Morris Graves Museum of Art also offers countless opportunities to the public and the university.

"The museum has had a tremendous partnership with the faculty of HSU," says Goodwin. "Many have donated works of their own to us or they have offered to serve on the board."

Martin Morgan, an art professor at HSU, works with Goodwin and other members of the staff. Morgan has previous experience within the museum world and assists the Graves Museum in organizing its program.

"The museum is the only place where both local artist and students can show their art aside from on campus," says Morgan. "It is a great addition."

The Morris Graves Museum of Art sits at 636 F Street in Eureka in the old Carnegie Library. photo courtesy by Shannon Dybvig

Within an old, run-down library, the Morris Graves Museum has made a comfortable home for the art of the North Coast. Its three galleries offer space to the work of artists such as Brian Tripp, an HSU graduate whose art celebrates his Native American heritage. In viewing his show, I was touched by many of his works - feeling a connection with the pieces because of the many times I saw them in the collection room. I can't say enough about the importance of my experience. I am an art history major, and I hope to work in a museum someday. Okay, so I don't want to be doing the filing and unpacking all my life. But I do want to understand even the smallest aspects of what it takes to put something like an art museum together. Working for a non-profit business in a small community, it is important to have the support of everyone, including students.

As Morris Graves once said, "Beauty elevates." And what better way to elevate our community and my own self then through art. Art museums are places that some never think about visiting, and that always seemed so unfortunate to me. The reality of a beautiful painting or an awe-striking photograph is something that can not be reproduced on the web, or on TV. There is something in the sense of "seeing it for your self" that can't be replicated or even completely understood.

When my internship came to end, I was thankful for never having to work in that cold little room again. But when I visited the museum next, the connection I felt to many of the works still lingered. When I leave this area that has been a part of my life for what feels like so long now, I know I'll return. I know because of the atmosphere the North Coast holds - its willingness to embrace the artist, the student, the politician, and the beggar - demonstrates the culture that our county overflows with. An art museum not only adds to the culture present in the area, but it helps to keep reinventing it. It does so with each new artist who exhibits there, each student that interns there, and each and every person that happens to wander through on a rainy, wet, typical Humboldt day.

The Museum is located on 636 F Street in Eureka, Calif., 95501. The phone number is (707) 442-0278. Also, they can be visited through www.thepalette.com.