The Artists of Heartside Gallery and Studio-- Annette Gray

Heartside Gallery and Studio began in 1993 as a small program of Heartside Ministry.  This ever-expanding program continues to offer the Heartside community and its neighbors a supportive and safe environment in which to create, exhibit and sell work. 

Our artists come from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences.  Some have experienced homelessness and the disadvantages that come with it; our community also includes artists with various emotional, physical or mental disabilities.  Many artists are simply people from the Heartside neighborhood who wish to share their experience and talent with neighbors who can benefit from their expertise.

Annette Gray

"My name is Annette Renee Gray and I have two children, Aaron and Josh. Aaron was a twin and his brother’s name was Anthony William Knight. He passed away of SIDS at the age of 2 months and one day, April 26, 1988. Aaron and Joshua are a big strength in my life. The biggest is God. If it wasn’t for god in my life I wouldn’t be where I am now. I had a job working for Family Fare for 7 years until I had become ill with fibromyalgia and arthritis, which my doctor told me I couldn’t work anymore after my hip surgery.  That really put me into a depression. 

I did art since I was in high school, off and on.  I started to do jewelry as a hobby, to get me going. Then everyone liked what I did and I began to sell my jewelry more.  That’s when I started back into my art.  My grandmother on my father’s side didn’t know how to read or write, so she drew art, animals and people, and that’s how she communicated with people.  I have a mother who is deaf and blind in one eye, she reads lips and signs.  My father was an artist, but never went anywhere with his talent.  He would give his art to family members or friends.  All of this gave me strength to keep doing art.  The kind of art I do puts everything together on how beautiful life is."

'The Artists of Heartside Gallery and Studio' is a monthly feature to highlight some of the wonderful people of the Heartside neighborhood.  Visit www.heartside.org to learn more and get involved.

Sarah Scott is Arts Coordinator for Heartside Gallery and Studio, and can be reached at [email protected]