The Gund, the world-class teaching museum at Kenyon College, is opening a new location dedicated to art education in downtown Mount Vernon.
Housed in a restored, historic storefront at 12 E. Gambier St., The Annex will invite the local community to discover new connections to art, ideas and each other through free workshops, creative activities and events inspired by The Gund’s growing permanent collection.
To celebrate, a public ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at The Annex at 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8, followed by free activities and refreshments at an open house that will extend through Saturday.
This weekend’s festivities will kick off with remarks from Kenyon Acting President Jeff Bowman; Mount Vernon Mayor Matt Starr; Knox County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Carol Grubaugh; Desrosiers, and Morgan. An open house from 4 - 6 p.m. will feature a caricature artist and doughnuts from Donna’s Delicious Dozen.
On Saturday, the sweet treats and caricature artist will be joined by a photographer who will produce free tintypes of a limited number of guests.
Wynne Morgan, coordinator of engagement and public programs for The Gund, will oversee programming at The Annex, which will include free, regular classes for all ages. Initial offerings will highlight photography and watercolor painting, and there will be weekly art book storytimes for young children.
Each season, The Annex will focus on one artwork from The Gund’s collection, the artist who made it, and their creative practice as a way to explore what visitors can learn about themselves and each other when they interpret art and artmaking as a community.
The Annex’s hours will be Thursdays from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Fridays and Saturday from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Gund associates from Kenyon will assist in the Mount Vernon space, and all members of the College community can visit for free using a Knox Area Transit shuttle.
For more information, contact The Gund at gundgallery@kenyon.edu or 740-427-5972. This weekend’s events are free and open to the public.