New gallery, shop serves two community needs: Supporting artists and feeding the hungry
by Olivia Murray
omurray@dominionpost.com
WESTOVER — A new combination art gallery and gift shop has opened in Westover, and its owner’s intentions are to serve his community in more ways than one.
Eli Pollard, owner and operator of Galactic Panther, whose grand opening was Dec. 19, purchased the building at 462 Dunkard Ave. in Westover a year ago, after learning he would be losing work at West Virginia University.
“I knew I needed to come up with another source of income so I could stay in Morgantown,” Pollard said. “This is the way I thought I could stay around without working at the university as much.”
Two of the three units in the building were renovated into apartments, both of which are occupied. Pollard contemplated what he should do with the third space.
“I knew that I could probably make a killing with a convenience store or something, but I wanted to do something more positive for the community,” Pollard said.
Pollard decided to renovate the space into a gallery to bring attention to the works of local, national and international artists and to allow the community to explore art. In order to further benefit the community, Pollard decided that a portion of every sale made at Galactic Panther would go toward purchasing food for those in need.
“We’ve already raised probably over $150 just in the few days we’ve been open toward food resources for those in need, so we’re very happy about that,” Pollard said.
Pollard said artists whose works are displayed in the gallery have a part in determining the amount of profit donated to food resources, with some artists choosing to donate 60% of sales.
Pollard said many names were discussed for the gallery, including Food for the People, Tiger Teeth and Wizard Ship. A close friend combined two of the proposed names for the gallery’s ultimate title, Galactic Panther.
The art presented in the gallery is a collection that is just as eclectic as the gallery’s name. Pollard intends to house art created by friends and artists from West Virginia University, as well as pieces from artists in Wyoming, Tennessee and Africa in the coming weeks.
“It’s a really fun collection to go through,” Pollard said.
Pollard anticipates the business and its contributions to local charity causes will have a significant positive impact on not only Westover, but on the greater Morgantown community.
He said, “2020 has pushed us all into a hole, kind of, and this is, I think, a bright light to climb back out of that hole toward. I feel like Morgantown will benefit the more the arts are supported in the community.”
Pollard said events will be held at the gallery post-COVID-19.
“To me, the part I’m most proud about is being able to give to the community. Hopefully the more we succeed, the more we’ll be able to offer those services to our fellow neighbors,” Pollard said.
For more information on Galactic Panther, visit the gallery on Facebook (Galactic Panther) or Instagram (galactic.panther).
Tweet @DominionPostWV
