The Power of Art - Article c/o ACE WEEKLY
Pat Gerhard, artist, activist, advocate, owner Third Street Stuff
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| Pat Gerhard Photo by Ryan Whelan |
Everybody knows Pat Gerhard, and even if you don't, you've seen her work. If not at her shop, Third Street Stuff, then hanging around town in the form of banners, signage, and other colorful contributions to downtown.
As a business woman, she's a rare retailer who's managed to keep her establishment afloat in and out of a recession, downsized in scope when manufacturing issues (at one point) prevented her from being able to meet the demand for her products-and emerged on the other side, successful.
She is not backed by a team of wealthy investors, a Daddy Warbucks, or a trust fund, relying instead on dogged hard work, creativity, belief in what she does, and persistence.
In the middle of a downturn, stories like hers are rare, hard to come by, and are a reflection of her work ethic, along with an uncanny ability to adapt to changing times and changing markets.
Far beyond her job description as a business owner, Gerhard is a force to be reckoned with in downtown. She sees both its economic and artistic viability, and has very specific ideas as to how they can be realized. And she's not afraid to enumerate them. Loudly. To everyone who will listen.
Although she serves on many committees and donates a great deal of her time to worthy causes (too many to list), she's never going to be confused with a bureaucratic paper pusher.
She's on the front lines, her shock of red hair blazing the way-never to be ignored.