Tapp's Center manager marks art gallery's growth

By Travis Newman

Brenda Miller of Columbia has been managing the gallery at the Tapp's Center for the Arts for the past six months.

"I used to own a gallery studio before. My first one was 14 years ago," said Miller. "It's just something I always wanted to do. I used to do it real small than I put it out there. Then about two years ago I started meeting people and talking to people. A year ago the owner of this building asked me to come in for a meeting and we wrote a business plan and boom here it is."

Miller said she is committed to helping young artists get their artwork out there for display.

"I'm an advocate for artists," Miller said. "I'm an artist as well but what I really like to do is facilitate there doing what they need to do in getting where they need to be. My big thing is always been to have studios, rental studios and a rental gallery so that they can work and do shows."

Miller said she is surprised how much the gallery has grown in such a short period of time.

"I never thought it would get this big, but now it's kind of like a small institution," she said.

There is also a basement area where Miller hopes to get a studio and restaurant going.

"(The restaurant) t does not function right now. It was the old Tapp's Restaurant, which we would like to open again." RCT