Written by Holly Bechiri for cultured.GR

Hannah Grohman got her degree in art education. But she's got her sights on something a little more specific than teaching classroom after classroom of 30 kids at a time. Instead, Grohman has created what one could call a community space at her just-opened gallery Lions & Rabbits, where everyone can teach and anyone can learn.

"I think it's really important for artists to teach their trade as an occupation," she says. "And I think it's really important for kids to come into a setting like this--to know that art is a job."

Grohman has 10 artists that will be teaching classes alongside her, with classes in the works for both children or adults. The gallery, along with teaching opportunities, houses the work of 55 Grand Rapids artists on its walls, salon style. Artists like Tom Woodhouse; Ryan Klotz, who won the KCAD student excellence award; Katherine Williams from UICA; Danielle Wyckoff, professor at Kendall; and Nick Nortier are included. Grohman has intentionally showcased only Grand Rapids artists.

Grohman started by seeking the counsel of others in the art community--people like Richard App, Katie Moore, Katie Williams, and Tommy Allen, to learn more about what was needed, what she could do, and what works and doesn't work. She walked away with a confirmation that it was important to help the greater community see art as a part of their lives year round, and help the community purchase art and support local artists. This informed not only her mission for her gallery but her business model as well.

"I would rather see someone sell something here and take less of a cut [in gallery fees] so that they were making more art than have them work at a bar and only make a piece every six months because they don't have time," she says.

Grohman's space will be used for more than art selling and art making, though. The gallery will host yoga classes in the evenings during the week, and can be rented out for events. Even before opening night, she had a list of event rentals in the space.

There's even a children's playroom in the back so that children have their own creative space. Grohman is working to activate the space for multiple uses, all at the goal of supporting artists by exposing more of the community to their artwork.

"I'm up for whatever," she says. "It's a learning experience."

Judging by the success of her packed opening night and the savvy ways she approaches business and art, it seems she's learned a lot already.





Lions & Rabbits

1264 Plainfield NE

Gallery hours:

Tuesdays 11-3

Wednesday-Saturday 11-6

Yoga:

Monday-Thursday 6:15-7:30

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This article also appears on the cultured.GR website, where you can find this article and more conversations about the arts in Grand Rapids. To see more photos for this article, please visit the article on the cultured.GR website.