Unique Artworks and Custom Framing at its FINEST...

Town Gallery & Framing

Jim “Swami” Wombacher

1956-2006

How We Got Started!

The Town Gallery was inspired by the men at “The Higgins Halfway House” in Chicago, IL and my good friends Barbie and PM, without my experiences with these lovely people none of this would have been possible.  Growing up in Chillicothe for 36 years I moved to Chicago with my fiancée.  I landed a  part-time job at a wonderful gallery on Fulton Market.  That is where I met Barbie and PM.  Barbie and PM were such a great help.  She found me a full-time job, and she suggested I do volunteer work through the Cathedral Shelter.  That is where I met the men of The Higgins Halfway House.  I was to be the art teacher for these men in recovery of drugs and alcohol.  I had never been an art teacher, but I did it anyway.  I brought in all kinds of art supplies for the men.  I met with them every Tuesday evening.  I had been going to  the House for about a month and realized all the talent.  It came to me to have an art show for these men.  I asked Barbie about the idea and she welcomed it with open arms.  I told the men what we were going to do...they were so excited.  They had never dreamed of such a thing. 

I took the men’s art to the gallery and framed over 70 pieces of art.  One of the men Robert Jackson helped me.  It was the day of the showing, all the men came to the gallery.  They were so surprised to see all their artwork in frames.  Then the people came.  The men spoke to everyone as they asked questions about their art.  Part of the recovery program the men sang in a choir, so at the event the men sang.  It was beautiful!  Towards the end of the show some of the men gathered around me to thank me for what I had done for them.  Every man sold a piece of art.  They told me that   “this is the best day of our life.”  I cried.  I still do when I tell that story.

Soon after the show was over my fiancée told me the news that we were moving back to Chillicothe.  I was sad, all I had started had to end.  One Sunday afternoon driving back to Chillicothe on Route 18 I was thinking to myself...what will I do for work?  All of a sudden I heard a voice...Open an art gallery downtown Chillicothe.  I thought...what?  I drove straight to downtown Chillicothe to see if there was a building available.  Standing on the sidewalks I didn’t see one.  All of a sudden I heard the voice again...look down to the corner .  I did, and I saw a for rent sign.  I immediately called and within the week the place was mine.  I had no clue how to start a business, but I jumped in with both feet.  Town Gallery was the name, but 6 months later I added the framing.  Selling artwork only wasn’t paying the bills, so I used my 19 years of framing experience to help out in that area.  I always dreamed of having my own gallery/frame shop.  This was a dream come true!

The Town Gallery  had its first opening October 13, 2004 at 909 N. Second Street.  The Grand Opening was a success!  My dear friend Jim Wombacher was one of the featured artists.  Jim passed away in 2006, at that time I had a lot of is artworks.  In his passing his family let me keep the artworks, which I truly cherish.  “Swami” was so talented.  There wasn’t a thing he couldn’t create.  Jim designed many things for me.  Before Jim’s death his Madonna artworks were published in a book called “Madonna In Art” by Mem Mehmet.  Jim was so pleased to be in the book.  You can still see his artwork at www.artwanted.com. 

Soon after the first opening many more openings followed.  One day a good friend of mine suggested to me that I buy a building Downtown Chillicothe so I could have a bigger space.  A building became available, but it wasn’t easy!  I had many obstacles in front of me...but during the entire time I kept the faith!  Finally, after 10 months the new building was mine.  I had been preparing a Grand Opening and had only 15 days to prepare.  The opening show was called “Mars Had Landed” featuring PM and Jeffrey Goard.  The show was a success, over 500 people came.

 My dear friend Sandi gave me a sign for the outside my building.  It says, “DREAM BIG.”  I did.  I owe it all to the Heavenly Father in Heaven!

Special thanks to my Aunt Linda, Les Ohlmann and W.M Bliss.