Alderson Main Street is an organization dedicated to improving and enriching the charming mountain community that exists within our Valley. The Alderson Artisan’s Gallery, a cooperative, non-profit group of local West Virginia artisans, is part of that enrichment effort. Part of the mission of the Artisan’s Gallery is to offer quality and affordable art to this area, while supporting local artisans. I recently had the opportunity to speak with Jo Perez, Director of the Artisan’s Gallery, about what makes it such a vital part of our community.
Alderson Artisan’s Gallery originally began in 2015 as a project of Alderson Main Street.
This gallery, like the people whose creations it houses, embodies the Appalachian spirit of strength and
resilience. It has endured through the devastating 2016 flood and the COVID-19 shutdown that ground so
many non-profits and small businesses to a halt. The group of hardworking volunteers behind the
Artisan’s Gallery have made tremendous efforts to rejuvenating the valuable creative offerings they bring
to Alderson and beyond.
The Gallery recently hosted a wreath making class, and has plans to offer more arts and crafts classes in the future. In addition to their dedicated group of co-op artisans, they also invite selected artisans to offer their creations.
The featured artist beginning December 22 is Alderson artisan Kathleen DeRouen. Kathleen and her husband, Brian, run the Alderson Hospitality House. DeRouen creates beautiful layered collage work,
which will be on display in the Alderson Artisan’s Gallery until February 15.
Currently, approximately thirty artisans are represented in the Gallery with a variety of works to enjoy and purchase: fine art; painting; prints; quilts; stained glass; crafts; photography; crochet work; jewelry; sculpture; pottery; and baskets. As Jo Perez said, the Gallery represents almost anything created in Appalachia.
Alderson Artisan’s Gallery is open on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. They are located at 100 Railroad Avenue in Alderson. Their phone number is (304) 445-7952. Email is
aldersonartgallery@gmail.com. You can also shop online and donate via their website, aldersongallery.com.
