Birthing of the Old Schoolhouse Art Gallery

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - The Old Schoolhouse Art Gallery just celebrated its 26th anniversary. Some of its early posters and reproductions of artwork were put up on the walls for the society’s recent AGM. During conversation with some of the earlier members, Cortes Currents learned the gallery was in operation prior to the beginning of written records in 1997. 

Brigid Wieler explained, “I was here from the beginning, not terribly involved right away, but interested. Evelyn Mielke actually opened the gallery, but that's disappeared out of history, and I can't find Evelyn.”

Meinsje Vlaming agreed, “I think that was in the mid 90s.”


To which Wieler added, “That is correct. It was two years before Noberto, then they worked together for a bit and then she left the island.” 

Mielke’s name appears in a list of the pioneers who displayed their artwork in 1998 and 1999. 


The stream of records starts the year before, which is why this is officially the 26th anniversary of the Old Schoolhouse Art Gallery.

CC:What part did Noberto de la Vega play in the gallery? 

Meinsje: "He was our leader. He came from Mexico, he went to art school in Mexico City. His art is very dramatic and very socially oriented. He took on a lot, I just can't even start to imagine how his art would be right now."

"The gallery was filled with works from various artists that would stay for the whole season. It would be open daily, from 11:30 to 4:30."

CC: 5 days a week?

Meinsje: "Through the whole season with one show. We just got a little taste of everything. Of course, there were not too many people. I don't even know if there was an opening then, because later on we came up with the openings."


"I was the host sometimes also, and Noberto and I got talking, ‘wouldn't it be a great idea to have some more shows so we could pull in more people into the gallery and have every artist on Cortes show more of their work. Let's just see what everybody can do and grow the art community.’ So this is what we did."


"We had our meetings, I think in May because we would sit outside with all the chairs. Norberto was there with a big sign, and it was 'OK, who wants to have a show?' People would go, 'yeah me, me, me, I'll have a show the first week in June.' Every week there was another show."

An interview with Lynne Barker, Janet Turpin, Meinsje Vlaming and Brigid Weiler about the origins of the Old Schoolhouse Art Gallery.