by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

Locals art gallery on University Avenue is in the midst of hosting its final season. Constructed on a lease dating back to 1895, the building formerly housed the Duck River Electric Office, a bank, and a laundry that struggled with adapting to laundering women’s clothes when the University first began admitting women in 1969. In its grand and fitting iteration as “Locals,” the iconic building has showcased more than 20 local artists over the past 15 years, a vision dreamed into being by John and Melissa Goodson.

John Goodson’s father, Mercer Logan Goodson, was born in Sewanee, and like his father before him, became an Episcopal priest. Raised in Texas, John attended St. Andrew’s School as a boarding student and persuaded his father to buy land and build a cabin in Sewanee. In 2004 John purchased the University Avenue building and a large tract of land adjacent to Lost Cove from Ina Mae Myers, a longtime family friend. John’s vision for the land was Myers Point subdivision, a housing development celebrating the pristine natural beauty of the property. The future of the University Avenue building fell to Melissa.

“I thought a coffee shop or gallery,” said Melissa. “We didn’t want to compete with existing businesses. A gallery featuring local artists was the first best thing.” With a 28-year career as a publicist and coordinating tour advance for pro-sports and music professionals, Melissa’s creative gifts as a writer found a perfect fit promoting local artists. And what was John’s role?

“I like creating and building beautiful things,” John said. Since wresting the building away from the laundry, Ina Mae Myers had occasionally hosted antique consignment sales there. John undertook a five-year renovation. “I gutted the whole thing,” John acknowledged. “But I wanted to maintain the original profile. I kept the window trim, bricked the inside, built the fireplace, put in Brazilian hardwood floors and a tin ceiling, a new roof, HVAC, bathrooms in the back.”

Appropriately, John and contractor Bill Mauzy engaged all local craftsmen to do the renovation work. And in 2009, Locals opened its doors, featuring four local artists handpicked by Melissa: Jimmy Abegg, Tom and Susan Church, and Sanford McGee. Melissa defines local as “Sewanee and one degree of separation.” Melissa had met the Church’s, whose studio is in Belvidere, at a crafts fair in Nashville where she purchased a hand-turned wooden bowl from Tom. Abegg and McGee were personal friends.

“Locals needed to be there. It’s become an outlet for amazing artists,” Melissa insisted. “It’s so exciting to see the artists bring in new work.” Another local connection has graced the gallery in the person of Ashley Charlton. Ashley’s mother Beth Charlton taught both of the Goodson’s children at Sewanee Elementary. Melissa and Ashley shared common ground through careers in media and journalism and a friendship evolved. Ashley occasionally subbed for Melissa at the gallery. She came on board full time when she moved back to Sewanee in 2013, deep diving into curating displays and selecting artists.

The gallery hosts a stable of regulars and one or two new artists each season, with seasons running from September Parent’s Weekend to Christmas and April through July. “There are so many gifted local artists to choose from,” Ashley said, “and so much unique diversity.” She cited the bronze sculpture of Alto artist Jeanie Stephenson and the hand blown glasswork of Thomas Spake from Jasper. Ahsley keeps an eye out for new talent by following local arts organizations. She cherishes developing relationships with the gallery’s artists. “I want to get to know them personally, and when they live nearby, they can stop in to visit.”

Melissa concurs. For her the Locals artists are “family. We’ve all become friends.” The current exhibit features painter Heide Kuster and potter Mack Croom, the son of two former Sewanee professors.

So why is the gallery closing? “I’m 65 years old,” John conceded. “It’s time,” Melissa agreed. “John tells me I’m retired,” she joked. “It’s been a labor of love,” John said. “Melissa’s passion was the local artists and mine was renovating the building.”

In the past, Locals has occasionally hosted events, including class reunions and an Obama inauguration celebration. John plans to make the building available as an event space. “It’s a party house,” he observed, pointing to the building’s suitability as a perfect venue for rehearsal dinners, meetings, and luncheons. John anticipates eventually selling the building.

“The building is historical,” Ashley remarked. “It traces back to the birth of the University. People like John Goodson put their efforts into keeping these little gems that have such rich history, making them new while sustaining their old qualities. There are so many great things the building could be.”

“Locals has been a beautiful gift to us for 15 years,” Melissa said, clearly saddened by the farewell. A goodbye party during the Sewanee artists’ studio tour in December is a possibility. Stay tuned.