“It’s such a fine example of people coming together in a spirit of volunteerism,” said Doug Hearn of the Crary Art Gallery.

The gallery celebrates 40 years of “spreading the art” this year, and it has made it an event to remember. With a mission of inspiring, entertaining, an educating by being a center of excellence in the visual arts and contributing to the cultural enrichment of our region through diverse exhibitions and programming, the gallery has a lot to celebrate. Exhibitions of work from around the country, summer residences with artists teaching multiple generations of Warren residents how to reap the pleasures of an artistic life, and events that give an opportunity to art fans throughout the region to fellowship and enjoy the atmosphere of the historic gallery are the Crary’s life work.

The celebration begins on Friday, said Hearn, and it is both a time to celebrate by looking back at all the Crary has done, as well as a point in time to look forward to the Crary’s continued influence on the arts and culture of Warren County. Hearn grew up in an artistic family, with a brother who was himself an artist, and lived in large cities most of his life. As such, Hearn said, he was given ample opportunities to experience and appreciate art in his life. Driving down Market Street four years ago, on his way to an interview with Blair at the time, Hearn said he was pleased to see the gallery on the corner of Market and Sixth and he knew that if he wound up in Warren, the Crary Gallery would be an organization he’d be involved with.

“For a town of this size to have a gallery like that,” Hearn recalls thinking, “I wanted to be in a town like this.”

For its 40th year, said Hearn, the gallery will be filled with works from its permanent collection, many of which have not been on display for years or seen by the public at all. Photographs by Clare Crary himself, paintings by Clare’s wife Genevieve “Gene” Walker Crary, and sculptures by Marian Sanford, a family friend, as well as pieces on loan from the Warren County Historical Society and the Crary Home will grace the walls of the gallery for its ruby anniversary.

And, said Hearn “we’ve gussied up” the gallery itself for the event as well. In addition to work on the roof, the gallery saw improvements to the wooden eaves outside the building as well as improvements to the soffit and gutters. The grounds of the gallery as well as the gallery itself will be open for the enjoyment of those in attendance.

Starting Friday, Aug. 18, the opening reception will begin at 6 p.m. at the gallery with a brief program beginning at 7 p.m. Presentations by Thomas Paquette on the history of the gallery, Michelle Gray of the Warren County Historical Society on the Marion Sanford sculptures, and Larry Nelson, manager of the Crary Home building and grounds, who will reminisce on the Crarys as he knew them will be given. Ellen Paquette, harpist, will provide music. Refreshments will be served from 6 to 9 p.m. As with all gallery events, the opening reception is free and open to the public. Additional off-street parking is available in the Warren County Courthouse lot at Market Street and Fifth Avenue.

On Sunday, Aug. 20, from noon to 4 p.m., a community open house will be held at the gallery with music by the Warren Philharmonic, the Methodist Madrigals, and female a capella quartet the Harmony Gals. Additionally, there will be a special presentation during that open house of the Gustave Dore engraved wood printing blocks that were used to create the famous 1866 Dore Bible, which were donated to the gallery last year by the Seastead family of Warren.

Finally, on Saturday, Aug. 26, the gallery will host its first pop-up artisan marketplace, from noon to 6 p.m. The marketplace is, as are all gallery events, free and open to the public to attend, with art and food vendors selling their unique work. Among the vendors slated to be available during the pop-up are Scott Alexander, with turned wood art, Marian Aranyos, with watercolor and collage, Stephanie Distler, with jewelry, East to West, with henna art and more, Rowan and Charles Hughes, with pottery, Peggy Houser, with beaded jewelry, Monica Garami, of Zseb Art Photography, Michelle J Designs, with wearable/usable art, Pat Orbanic, of The Copper Lady, Shandra Wilson, with Pysanky-Ukrainian egg art, Debbie Penley, of White Oak Creations with needle felted animals, and Wilma Flemming, local artist. Andale Tao Truck and Kondak’s Market will provide food for sale, and Patty Gern of Travel Secrets will be there. At 3 p.m. that Saturday, Egypt Hollow, featuring singer, songwriter, and guitarist Kenny Anderson, mandolin and guitar player Ian Royo, vocalist Ciara Whipp, and upright bassist Addison Gee will perform. Guests are invited to bring lawn chairs to enjoy the performance.

For more information about the Crary Art Gallery, stop by the opening reception on Friday or visit them online at craryartgallery.org.