THE ART STALL GALLERY - History

Compared to many galleries, the Art Stall is relatively long-lived. It was born during the 1960's battle to save the Pike Place Farmers Market from the wrecking ball of downtown developers who had visions of building high-rises in its place. During those years, the Allied Arts Association formed a subgroup called The Friends of the Market which organized and promoted events to call attention to the the Market's plight and to raise money to help save it.

Among the group's fundraisers was an art auction. The Friends of the Market invited members of the Quad A Art Club to a paint-out in the Market one November Saturday in 1964. A few weeks later, the artwork created that day was auctioned off at Flower Row, with proceeds going to the Market effort.

In February of 1965, with the help of The Friends of the Market, several members of Quad A opened the Art Stall Gallery. In those early days, The Friends manned the gallery two days a week, and the artists "sat" the remaining time, selling the postcards and books of the Friends as well as the original paintings of the artists. The gallery served also as a center where voters could sign petitions to put a Save-the-Market initiative on the ballot. The groups' effort were rewarded by an overwhelming popular mandate to keep - and renovate - the deteriorating Market. Around this time, the city acquired the property from the Desimone family and the Preservation and Development Authority (PDA) was formed to operate the Market.

At more than thirty years young, the Art Stall Gallery continues to thrive, thanks to the perseverance and continued creativeness of its members, both old and new. In some ways, the group functions like an extended family, sharing a commitment to each other as well as to the Art Stall and the Pike Place Market.

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