BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
SEE PHOTO GALLERY BELOW
“This is your home!” said Brenda Dennis, Executive Director of the Millbrook Area Chamber of Commerce. She was speaking to a large crowd, many of them artists, who attended Thursday’s ribbon cutting for the Millbrook Art Mill. The building will also serve as the home for the Cultural Arts and Special Events Department for the city.
It was an emotional but joyful day. While rain had threatened throughout the day, just before the ribbon cutting, the clouds parted and the crowd arrived.
The new Art Mill is located at 3560 Grandview Road, near the Pallet Depot.
“I know who was responsible for parting those clouds,” Special Events and Cultural Arts Director Danae Morgan said. She was speaking of her late husband who was a big supporter of her dreams and ambitions. The two lived in Millbrook for many years, while Danae worked with cultural arts in the City of Montgomery. She longed for the day that the City of Millbrook would do more to recognize the arts and had reached out to Mayor Al Kelley that if the city ever moved in that direction she would be interested.
Fast forward many years, and that is exactly what came to pass. While Danae was interviewing for the job, Mayor Kelley told her about a house the city had recently purchased, and planned on tearing it down. It would become a green space along Grandview Road, behind the Civic Center.
Danae rushed over to see it, Mayor Kelley said. Within 30 minutes, she rushed back to his office saying, “Do not tear that house down. It has potential.”
That potential was seen even amidst a former home that needed a lot of work. As Danae put it, “It was a hot mess.”
Danae lovingly made a plan for what the home could become, the best use of the space, and oversaw improvements. Silas Builders worked on the reconstruction. Many others, such as Shirley Esco, various departments within the city, friends and volunteers all came forward over the past few months to make the dream a reality.
As the doors were officially open, a crowd of over 100 people were able to view the display by the Elmore County Art Guild which will adorn the walls throughout March.
For a video of the ribbon cutting and comments, view https://www.facebook.com/editorsarah/videos/220586513780130
Head to the new Facebook page for the Millbrook Cultural Arts and Special Events at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100082502541716
Give the page some likes and love. This will be a great way to stay up to date on special events.
Through March 31, you can visit the Art Mill and view the talent on display by members of the Elmore County Art Guild. The show is a celebration of the organization’s 38 years in Elmore County. Many of the works are for sale and are all by local artists.
March hours for the Art Mill are Tuesdays: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Thursday: 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Fridays: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Additional hours available upon request.
Winners of this year’s Elmore County Art Guild:
Two-Dimensional Not Under Glass – 1st Place is Shirley Esco with Fields of Elmore County.
Two-Dimensional Under Glass – 1st place is Edward Brummel with Rainscape Reflections.
3-D, Sculptures and Fiber Art – 1st place is Teresa Wamble with Derby Bob & His Gang.
Photography & Printmaking – 1st place is Kay Brummal with Plein Air Gallery.
Mayor All Kelley’s Award – Donna Pate with Girl Watchers.
First Lady Brenda Kelley Award – Donna Pate with A Southern Gift.
