116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
My Biz: 3 artists open gallery in Mount Vernon
Abbe Creek also to host events, create community
The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
MOUNT VERNON — Mount Vernon is an artsy kind of town.
So, when a space opened up in the heart of the historic main street several months ago, local artists Kimberly Machovec-Smith, Chris Childers and Bob Campagna combined their creative energies to open a gallery.
“When Mount Vernon Creates closed, we all felt the void and were working toward creating something to fill that space,” said Campagna. “We felt the task was too overwhelming to take on individually and saw the benefits of building something together.”
The trio opened Abbe Creek Gallery in September 2024. Today, it represents 32 local, regional, and national artists offering works in a variety of mediums, with giftable items available.
“The artists represented create original paintings, photographs, etchings, sculptures, pottery, handbound journals, and jewelry,” said Machovec-Smith, noting the gallery also sells independently published books by local authors.
The location also shares space with Sherry Brayton of the Right Frame of Mind, a custom framing shop.
“Framing often provides the perfect finishing touch for artwork, helping it seamlessly fit in your home and preserving it for future generations,” said Childers. “Customers can purchase an original work of art and have it framed in one location.”
Community and connections
Campagna said the gallery also connects community members with artists “to commission unique and personal works of art. Each day, each moment, we want to make a reason for people to walk through our door and connect with the original art we offer.”
The three owners, all artists whose work is available in the gallery, plan to foster a sense of community at Abbe Creek.
“We plan to have an active event schedule populated with art openings, artist talks, workshops, open studios, musical performances and other arts-related activities,” Machovec-Smith said. “Our ‘why’ with this space has been passion, connection and creating opportunity.”
Some of their upcoming events and exhibitions include:
- An exhibition of paintings and dry point etchings by Russell Lumb up now through March.
- A night of musical entertainment by Mike Maas and Carlis Faurot on March 22.
- An exhibition titled “Inspired by” that will run from March 20 to May 4 and showcase work by several artists who have created vignettes of original artwork about what drives their creative process.
- An exhibition of art work in May by Mount Vernon High School students.
“There are multiple moving parts at any given time: preparing for shows, talking with artists, maintaining inventory, determining advertising strategies, planning events, budgeting, and so on,” Machovec-Smith said. It all definitely keeps us on our toes,”
So far, the partnership has been working out well.
“Each of us brings our varied life and work experience to collaborate on all aspects of the gallery operation, including designing the gallery layout, artist invitations, exhibition scheduling, and programming,” Childers said.
Bob Campagna
Campagna, 75, moved to Mount Vernon in 1978 and has since been integral to the community’s fiber.
In 2023, he helped found the Sculpture trail through his position as chair of the city’s Parks and Recreation committee.
He has taught almost 13,000 students through over 600 photography workshops. As a photographer he has taken well over a million images.
“I love creating and collaborating and sharing joy with people,” he said. “As a photographer, I feel my images honor the moment and subject. I consider photography as a tool of learning, and it’s joyful to keep discovering.”
Chris Childers
Childers, 61, is a recent transplant to the area, moving to Mount Vernon in 2022 after retiring from a 31-year career as a letter carrier in Minneapolis.
As a lifelong painter, he enjoys sharing his artistic vision with his gallery partners.
“I enjoy talking to people, to be part of a place where people can come to enjoy and be inspired by art,” he said.
Kimberly Machovec-Smith
Machovec-Smith, 47, began her career as an art conservator at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the Field Museum in Chicago.
When life brought her back to Iowa, she pivoted away from conservation and restoration and began investing more time creating original artwork. She primarily works with oils and oil pastels to portray the abundance of the natural world.
“I love talking with people about art and learning about what draws them in to the work — the colors or textures, the subject, or the feeling it evokes,” she said.
“The people I talk to have shared memories of childhood, loved ones, travel adventures, or their special connections to the places they see represented in the art. Art provides a meaningful way to connect with new people.”
Know a business that should be considered for a “My Biz” feature? Let us know by emailing businessnotes@thegazette.com.
Abbe Creek Gallery
Owners/artists: Kimberly Machovec-Smith, Chris Childers, Bob Campagna
Address: 105 First St. W, Mount Vernon
Phone: (319) 451-9199
Website: abbecreekgallery.com/
Daily Newsletters