Bare Hands Gallery

BARE HANDS GALLERY was incorporated as a 501©(3) non-profit arts organization in May 2004. Prior to that (June 1996 – April 2004) it was a local gallery committed to providing a positive and professional venue for local contemporary visual artists who were seldom shown in retail galleries due to their emerging status and non-traditional approach to art making. Jessica Helfrecht founded the gallery, infused it with a strong sense of community and curated many memorable and inspiring exhibits. In December 2000 she sold the gallery to long-time gallery patron Wendy Jarvis. Jarvis owned the gallery until April 2004 when she and gallery artists began its conversion to a not-for-profit in order to keep the gallery true to its original purpose and to work to expand its mission. To date Jarvis serves as volunteer director and is supported by an extraordinary staff of volunteers. Bare Hands Gallery is governed by a nine member Board of Directors.

As a non-profit Bare Hands Gallery continues its commitment to local visual artists and strives to educate the public about the vitality and cultural importance of contemporary art and artists in Alabama through exhibitions and gallery talks given by the artists; supporting arts education; and by opening the gallery as a venue for contemporary performing artists. Since receiving federal non-profit status, the gallery has grown in size and reputation. It now coordinates a volunteer staff of 30 throughout the year increasing that number to 100 every fall during its arts & cultural Day of the Dead Festival (Dia de los Muertos, a day of remembrance for the departed).

Annually Bare Hands hosts nine art exhibitions, an average of seven performing arts events, and the multi-cultural community celebration, the Day of the Dead Festival on November 2nd. In addition it is available for a variety of private events and offers yoga classes on Monday nights.

BARE HANDS GALLERY was named one of two Birmingham Tourism Sites for the Appalachian Region by National Geographic Traveler and in 2006 was awarded Birmingham’s Best Art Center by Birmingham Magazine.