Jamestown’s Art In the Alleys will have new artwork arriving this spring through a partnership with the Chautauqua Art Gallery, the Jamestown Renaissance Corp. and area high school students. Michael Edwards, JRC director of downtown revitalization, announced that a fresh call for submissions has been issued to update outdoor displays spanning Potters Alley, the Chautauqua Art Gallery building, and Winter Garden Plaza.
High School Senior Art Spotlighted in Downtown Jamestown
Stephanie Baker, an art teacher at Southwestern Central High School, has distributed a call for artwork across all Chautauqua County high schools. Instructors will submit works from their senior class artists for an annual exhibition scheduled at the Chautauqua Art Gallery in May 2027. Following the show, between 10 and 13 pieces will be chosen for reproduction and installation throughout the downtown alleyways.
“As I begin my tenure at the Renaissance Corporation, I’ve seen the wonderful public response to the Art in the Alleys,” Edwards said, noting that public installations foster a welcoming municipal environment. Leslie Calimeri of the Chautauqua Art Gallery is collaborating alongside Baker and the JRC to execute the project update.
Rotating Exhibition Schedule Extends Display Lifespan
The upcoming reproductions will initially replace existing works displayed on the exterior walls of the Chautauqua Art Gallery building. Organizers have established a rotating maintenance schedule to keep the displays vibrant. Next year’s selected artworks will move to Winter Garden Plaza, followed by subsequent rotation into Potters Alley, giving each student’s displayed piece an active lifespan of approximately three years.
“I am thrilled to have the Alley Gallery, now Art in the Alleys, updated to show off our most current talented Senior art students,” Baker said. “Opening this project up to all Chautauqua County Senior art students provides a great opportunity for our neighboring districts to also be showcased.”
Decade-Long Evolution of Jamestown Alley Galleries
The Jamestown Renaissance Corporation originally established the Potters Alley Gallery project in 2010. The initial endeavor brought youth artwork to the brick walls surrounding Potters Alley, the current Chautauqua Art Gallery site, and Winter Garden Plaza through a collaboration with Jamestown High School, Jamestown Community College, and the Active Artist Alliance.
While maintenance teams replaced several pieces over the intervening years, numerous installations remained in place since 2010 and are deteriorating. The current partnership aims to clear out aging displays and replace them with contemporary pieces from the county’s newest generation of student creators.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Alley Art Project
Who is eligible to submit artwork for the downtown installations?
Senior art students attending high schools throughout Chautauqua County are eligible to have their work submitted by their respective art teachers.
How are the final pieces selected for public display?
Art teachers submit senior class works for an annual show hosted at the Chautauqua Art Gallery each May, where 10 to 13 pieces are chosen for reproduction.
Where will the new student artwork be hung?
Selected reproductions will be displayed on a rotating basis across downtown Jamestown, beginning with the exterior of the Chautauqua Art Gallery, followed by Winter Garden Plaza and Potters Alley.
How long do student pieces remain on display in downtown Jamestown?
Artwork is rotated through the three distinct downtown locations so that each student’s reproduced piece stays up for approximately three years.
Where can community members find more information about the project?
Project details and updates are maintained on the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation’s website at www.jamestownrenaissance.org.