Tsuga Gallery to celebrate grand re-opening, 10th anniversary celebration

On Friday, June 18 at 4:00 p.m., Tsuga Art Gallery in downtown Cathlamet, will hold a Grand Re-Opening/10th anniversary celebration. Over the past year and a half, the gallery has been repainted inside and out. New track lighting has been installed and the area around the outside of the building has been landscaped. Having been closed due to the Covid-19 outbreak, Tsuga (pronounced Su-ga) Gallery is open and back in business; 2021 also brings the 10th anniversary of the gallery, founded by the late Janet Cimino in 2011.

Janet Kerstetter Cimino was born and raised in Wahkiakum County. She enjoyed the outdoors and did a lot of hiking and photography in the area. She was an art collector and an artist herself. Janet had a dream of a place in the area that could provide a forum for the development of art and art education in a collaborative environment that would also showcase the work of local artists. When she was diagnosed with cancer in 2011, she purchased a 100-year-old building in downtown Cathlamet and with the help of many area artists, the building was renovated into a gallery. She formed the Tsuga Art Association, and a grand opening was held in July of 2011. Janet was there to cut the ribbon and see her dream come true. Unfortunately, she died just two weeks later.

Tsuga Gallery is located at 70 Main Street in Cathlamet. It is a 501-C3 non-profit art co-op governed by a board of directors. The membership is open to residents of Wahkiakum County and the surrounding local area. Members pay dues and are required to work shifts during the days when the gallery is open. Funding comes from monies left by the Tsuga Art Trust/Janet Cimino, donations and fund raisers. Art classes of different types are offered to the public at varying times. If you are an artist living in Wahkiakum County and would like to join the gallery, or if you would like to donate to the gallery, contact them at 360-795-0725, http://www.tsugagallery.org or tsugagallery@gmail.com.