Written by Madison Zepp
From a small space in the basement to an embedded community organization, the Art Guild has grown significantly from its beginning.
Win Reber and his wife, Carol Reber, were one of the first couples to move into the brand-new carriage homes at Garden Spot Village in 2004. Win had taught as an art teacher for 38 years, educating anyone from 1st grade to graduate students on the different techniques and methods behind the craft. Art is and always has been a serious passion for Win. He mainly focuses on techniques such as watercolor painting and drawing, but in the past, he has also taught courses such as jewelry making, sculpture, pottery, graphics and printmaking.
Upon his arrival at Garden Spot, though, there wasn’t anything in place for artists like himself. In the basement beside the train room, there was a room that functioned as an art studio, but the lighting was poor and the space was not welcoming. At the time, Win had just started to create his own exhibits with John Edwards in the space formerly called the “indoor garden.” Together, they showcased many of Win’s paintings as well as John’s wood carvings. After two years of this, the “indoor garden” slowly began to be removed. Throughout this process, other artists in the community slowly realized that they had no dedicated place to exhibit their work.
Garden Spot had many fine artists. With no place to work and no place to exhibit their works, it was hard to form bonds with other artists. Win wanted to establish an organization for different artists in the community. He initially met with Colleen Musselman, the director of activities at the time, to put something in place. Together they pulled other residents into the planning.
Win says, “People like Shirley Wenger, Bill George, John Edwards, Beebe Crouthers, Elsie Johnson, Marie Diehl, Carla Plazer, Bonnie Lord, Bertha Hawk, Dorothy Morgan and others were very much involved in starting the Art Guild. Without Shirley Wenger, we never could have gotten this organization going so well. She was an amazing facilitator who made it possible for me to work with this group. As a retired gallery owner, she knew all the important local artists and they all respected her and were willing to help us out.”
After a year of trial and error, Win was chosen as leader of the group, despite the fact he lives in Maine for five months each year. Win, during his time in leadership, helped to implement a wide variety of activities that the Art Guild has and still does participate in.
Win launched the involvement and creation of some of the Art Guild’s most recognized projects, such as the Main Street Art Gallery, various art lectures, classes in various techniques and Inspire Your Heart with Art Day. Other than these projects, the guild has been involved in many other trips and community events throughout the time of their existence.
“I’m proud of them,” Win commented, “I’m pleased that it is still going and of its effect on the community.”
Even now as he has stepped away from his role in leadership, Win is still heavily involved with the program that he began. Win took a group of people with a passion and turned it into a community where people can foster and grow their love for art in many ways. The Art Guild continues to give purpose and provide community to those involved to this day.
Note: Photo taken by Alecsy Vega.