The Mansion House was built by miller-horticulturist, home builder-artist, John Heyser in 1846. It is located on the hill above the beautiful Hagerstown City Park, behind the Washington County Museum of Fine Art. The massive house with its large, inviting wrap-around porch is built of native limestone and bricks. The bricks were, in fact, made from the mud of the graceful lake, now inhabited by swans, which the house overlooks.
Today, the mansion serves as the home of The Valley Art Association (VAA) and a gallery to showcase member artwork from the tri-state area. Art can be shown for display or for sale. Original fine art may be displayed on the walls, pedestals or in cases and includes the following: painting (oil, watercolor, pastel, acrylic, tempera, encaustic, sculpture), individually produced etching, silk screen, lithograph, or wood block prints, collage, and carvings. All art displayed in the Mansion House must be suitably framed and matted. In addition, other types of art may be displayed in changing exhibits in the North Gallery of the Mansion House. All members are welcome to hang art in the periodic North Gallery all-member shows.
Any member in good standing may apply to become a gallery member, that is, to rent Mansion House wall space to display the artist's original artwork. Art is juried before a wall is assigned. A list of requests is kept for each size wall, and space is assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. There are small, medium, and large wall spaces, with an associated fee paid on a yearly basis. Each year, the member is assigned a different space. Gallery members must sign a contract to have wall space. They also must agree to staff the Gallery for a specified number of days during the year to keep the Gallery open and are encouraged to participate in special events held at the gallery.
The Valley Art Association accepts cash, checks, and credit cards for art sales. There is no commission, but artists must pay the bank's charge for credit card sales. These sales must clear the bank before the Treasurer will write a check to the artist for the sale. This process can take up to two weeks. Members selling art must have a Maryland Sales Tax Number. Sales tax is collected on each sale, and it is the artist's responsibility to pay the tax to the state.
Members interested in becoming a gallery member should contact us.
Gallery Hours:
Friday & Saturday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
480 Highland Avenue
Hagerstown, Maryland 21740
Phone: (301) 797 − 2867
Valley Art Association is a registered 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization.
Copyright © 2022 Valley Art Association - All Rights Reserved.
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