The group, predominately women, alternately fussed after the spread and prodded Mennenger for details, nervously wondering if anyone would show up for the gallery’s grand re-opening following a remodeling project this January.

“It’s in all the papers,” Mennenger said.

As the clock rolled around to 5 p.m. downtown merchants and friends of the art association began trickling in, saying their hellos and slowly perusing the artwork.

The association with its 100 or so members is a non-exclusive group. Anyone who wants to become a member can — the point is to foster an appreciation for the visual arts, somewhat regardless of accomplishment. One doesn’t have to be trained or acclaimed to get enjoyment out of making art.

And so the work is a mixed bag of studied oil landscapes, sculpture, watercolor portraits of children and pets, composition photography and primary colored folk art. At the art association gallery, it all has a home.

In remodeling the gallery this January, that home was made about a third larger through the installation of a new shelf for artwork, painting of the walls and extensive cleaning. The work is expected to help the association bolster its relationship with artists and the public.

“I would say that it’s going to spark more interest in the community because we’re able to display the artwork a little more realistically,” said Richard Bachor, association president and photographer.

The art association plays a significant role in disseminating art to the public not just through its gallery, but through several workshops held throughout the year both with visiting artists and through community painting sessions, and outreach education such as Mennenger’s upcoming visit to the Pruett House’s adult day-care program.

Classes are designed to be affordable and compliment the Macon County Arts Council’s offerings, which incorporate more of the performing arts.

“They’re just happy with anything we do,” Bachor said.

For example the arts council recently awarded the association with a grant to provide drawing workshops for children, as outreach to the young and underserved is a focus for both organizations, said Bobbie Contino, arts council director.

Reworking the association’s gallery space also will help draw people in, Contino said, as art often is thought of as an extra, rather than a necessity.

“We’re people of convenience,” she said. “You have to put it where people see it.”

Regardless of need, there most defiantly is a want for art — last year, before classes even were scheduled the association had a waitlist of 42 students, Mennenger said.

In addition to classes, the art association also holds a monthly art show in Highlands through the summer, orchestrates the county fair exhibit, and manages the town of Franklin’s small public art program — painting panels to hang on the town’s trash cans. The first set of trash can panels featured members’ work along with that by four Franklin High School Students and their instructor. Now it looks as though the program is set to expand.

“They want 30 more,” Bachor said.

Plans are to continue the trash art program to Highlands Road and Palmer Street and down Main Street toward the library and high school.