Harry Williams, who owns Elkhorn Athletic Club, has transformed the club's basketball court into an art gallery that displays paintings, drawings and pottery from more than a dozen local artists. (Baker City Herald/Lisa Britton).

By LISA BRITTON

Baker City Herald

Harry Williams loves art, and for years he’s decorated the walls of his Elkhorn Athletic Club with his own work.

This spring he decided to do a bit more than that.

Williams transformed the club’s basketball court into an art gallery and invited local artists to display their paintings, drawings and pottery.

It opened Memorial Day weekend, and news of the gallery spread quickly.

andquot;One artist would tell three or four others,andquot; he said.

Now he has 15 featured artists himself, George Keister, Michael Endicott, Rebecca Litke, Rose Fisher, Jane Bohn, Garry Cassidy, Joanne Thomson, George Mauer, Cheryl Fisher, John Kirby, Jo Fleming, Ann Eriksmoen, Alyssa Peterson and Marcie Cook.

Media include oils, photography, watercolor, drawings and acrylic.

andquot;I sit in here and just revel in the art,andquot; Williams said. andquot;I spend a lot of time in here.andquot;

He recently installed special, indirect lighting around the gym’s perimeter to illuminate the artwork.

The displays will vary depending on the number of artists and the amount of work, he said.

andquot;I have a strong desire to have a lot of artwork,andquot; he said.

All the art is marked for sale even Williams’ artistic doodles he’s selling for $5 (the sketches are framed).

Art is scattered through the club, and Williams has marked a few of his mother’s paintings for sale.

There’s one, though, that he won’t sell for any price.

It is a portrait of his grandmother, painted by his mother, Ellen Williams.

andquot;I won’t sell my grandmother,andquot; Williams said with a smile.

The art gallery is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and noon to 6 p.m. Saturday. It is located at 1243 Second St. (where Second and Dewey meet, near South Baker Elementary).

Williams said he will also be open during the First Friday art show openings this Friday, Aug. 1.