Open Sky Gallery: Dignity & Justice through Art

VISION

Open Sky Art Gallery and Gathering Place (OSAG) brings fine art together with the power of trauma awareness and healing while creating a bridge between people inside and outside of prison. We also serve those affected by serious crime and their families.

WHAT HAVE WE DONE?

 * We have changed the lives of 18 justice-impacted artists, writers and musicians, as well as families of those affected by serious crime. 

* Of the 16 community volunteers who help us run our program, two from Yreka and Montague have successfully completed prison sentences. 

* We have held 30 community events including artist interviews, concerts, poetry readings, trauma healing classes and more. 

 * We show and sell art providing an opportunity for system-impacted artists to integrate into society, increase their self-worth and heal from trauma.  

* We provide onsite artists’ residencies and community gatherings to build community, foster engagement, education and social connection.

Today, we're raising money to continue to be a resource to artists like Michael. Our goal is to raise $5000--Will you help?

WHO HAVE WE HELPED?

    We met Michael before we knew he was a musician songwriter.  Here's what he says:  "Open Sky Gallery is a venue where miracles happen. Not only were my paintings and dioramas lovingly displayed, my poetry was made available as well.

    Furthermore, I played a set of original music at the gallery for an intelligent, attentive audience and it turned out to be one of my best performances of the last 40 years. 

    As a justice-impacted artist, Open Sky Gallery was the ideal space for someone like me to be healed and celebrated."         - Michael Louis Mollo

HISTORY

Open Sky Art Gallery is housed in an 1898 building that was lovingly restored and decorated with antique furnishings and rugs by the organization’s founders who also own the building in historic downtown Montague, CA. It provides a place where locals and visitors can meet to participate in the arts while opening their minds and hearts to fresh ideas and new ways of seeing things.

Our community is INCREDIBLE, and we have already raised a number of in-kind donations, help with skilled labor, and a number of cash donations toward operating support and projects. 

WHAT IS OUR IMPACT?

As the first and only social justice gallery in the Pacific Northwest, we are helping to put the North State, Siskiyou County and the town of Montague on the map. We are proud to provide a venue for underrepresented system-impacted artists. We hope that the unique focus of the gallery will attract new supporters like you and ignite the collective imagination.