Larson Gallery turning 60 with a party

YAKIMA, Wash. -- Sixty years ago, A.E. Larson tried to donate Rosedell Manor to the city of Yakima for use as an art museum, but the city turned him down.

Instead, Larson donated the space that is now the Larson Gallery on the Yakima Valley Community College campus.

"Out of rejection grew the Larson Gallery," said Cheryl Hahn, the gallery's director.

Now, in a delightful bit of cosmic harmony, the gallery is celebrating its 60-year anniversary with a gala event at Rosedell Manor. The Saturday event will feature fine wine, signature martinis, heavy hors d'oeuvres, a raffle and silent auction, and big-band music of the style popular 60 years ago.

It will also include tours of Rosedell Manor, the 9,600-square-foot mansion that celebrated its own centennial this year. And, in a nod to the gallery's beginnings, Larson's grandson, Daryl Parker, will attend with his wife, Sherrie.

"We hope that people will embrace the historic significance of this," Hahn said, noting that about half of the 100 or so tickets for the event are still available.

Over its first six decades, the Larson Gallery has become an iconic part of the Central Washington art world. It's the largest and longest running gallery of its type in the region, and has championed local artists through its long-running annual juried show.

It also maintains a permanent collection of about 300 pieces, which are on display throughout the YVCC campus as part of its mission to display, preserve and promote art.

The gallery is operated as a partnership, with YVCC paying Hahn's salary and maintaining the building while the Larson Gallery Guild raises money to pay for staff and programming. So, as with many cultural endeavors here and nationwide, the gallery has been hurt by the weak economy the past two years.

Hahn and other gallery officials have mitigated that impact by collaborating with Allied Arts of Yakima. The result is "Nature By Design: New Directions in Fiber and Jewelry," which opens in April and will be a biennial juried exhibition. She hopes for further collaboration in the future.

"I see the gallery continuing for another 60 years, because the passion for art and creativity that the initial people who were involved with the gallery had, all those years ago, is still there," she said.

* Pat Muir can be reached at 509-577-7693 or pmuir@yakimaherald.com.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Larson Gallery 60th Anniversary Celebration.

WHERE: Rosedell Manor, 1811 W. Yakima Ave.

WHEN: 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday.

HOW MUCH: $60, available at the gallery, 509-574-4875 or www.larsongallery.org.