To the editor and Jerry Chambliss:
Yes, Malinda Herr-Chambliss was in the forefront of establishing the fine arts in Hot Springs.
She was the first to open a gallery in what is now considered the fine arts district on Central Avenue. We knew each other in Florida. She came within six months of our moving here, so we watched her progress daily. At that time, bums walked the streets and slept in the doorways, spilling liquor bottles, trashing the sidewalks. Many buildings were boarded up. Auction houses were still on Central Avenue.
Malinda came to HS alone, preceding your arrival, to start a new life. Help from the SBA got her established, and she often spoke of the kindness of Mrs. Marie Wilson, who allowed her to purchase over time the building at 718 Central Ave.
In the spirit of a barn-raising, the community helped her, even the city officials. Malinda worked for months renovating her historic building, yet it seemed she would not be ready in time for her first opening.
Paul and Suzanne Tucker were renovating their historic buildings in the 500 block at the same time. They pulled their entire crew off their job and sent them to Malinda's building to get her ready, and we sent three of our crew. Patty Roddenberry sent pizzas to feed everyone. Deborah Carroll helped. Many of us were there. She opened on time, and for that opening and for hundreds more, Malinda was a dignified and personable presence sharing her love of the arts with anyone who walked through the door.
The earliest galleries near Bathhouse Row -- Darrell Debow, Deborah Carroll, formerly of Contemporanea Fine Arts, Fine Arts Center of Hot Springs, The Artists Gallery and Robert Berman -- eventually joined Malinda, followed by Carolyn Taylor, Willie and Ann Gilbert, Linda Palmer, Bess Sanders. And then, even more ...
Malinda will be the first to say she was too busy setting up her gallery to help with the HSDFF.
About that, however, she was wrong, because she helped with constant encouragement, her delight in our achievements and very importantly -- taking the time to share the news of the film festival to all her visitors and tourists who came through her gallery.
Jerry, your tribute was well-intentioned. It does seem relevant to mention that all the gallery owners through the years were supportive of every cultural endeavor -- the Celebration of the Arts, the Hot Springs Music Festival, children's programs, the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival and the Jazz Festival. Musical rehearsals and filmmaker receptions, for example, are often held in the galleries.
Our motto was, "What was good for one, was good for all." In those early days, we gallery owners were all great friends. We still are.
Lorraine Link Benini
Hot Springs
Editorial on 09/25/2016