GWEN TIETGEN / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Wednesday, March 22, 2006 6:00 pm
Sidewalk chalk drawings of tugboats and arrows sent an art gallery owner to Lancaster County Court on Thursday, and her gallery’s not-for-profit mission caused her to prevail.
Lancaster County Judge Mary Doyle ruled that Peggy Gomez, co-director of the Tugboat Gallery, was not guilty for advertising without a license. Lincoln police gave Gomez the ticket Jan. 11 after someone called to report a vandalism, thinking the sidewalk chalk was spray paint.
The tugboats and arrows directed people from art galleries in the Haymarket to her small art gallery, the entrance to which is in the alley. The gallery is located in the back room of Gomez Art Supply, 1028 O St.
About 20 people crowded the courtroom benches as City Attorney Rob Caples and Gomez’s attorney, Bill Chapin, argued whether the sidewalk chalk drawings fell under an exemption in municipal code. That ordinance says signs in connection with “nonprofit civic activities and other non-commercial activities shall be allowed.”
With Doyle’s ruling, supporters applauded. One art instructor encouraged his students to attend Thursday’s bench trial.
Karin Dalziel and Melanie Dvorak, both senior art majors at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, said the fact Gomez got a ticket in the first place was silly. Both said they have visited her store and the gallery.
“I enjoy exhibits at the Tugboat. They’re different than what you see at other places,” Dalziel said.
Gomez said she was a little surprised at the dramatics of the courtroom despite warnings from her attorney.
“I’m just glad it’s over,” she said.
Co-director of the Tugboat Gallery, Joey Lynch, said what they were doing, directing people to their back room art gallery, fit in the ordinance perfectly.
“We had no intention of breaking the law,” he said, noting they had been making the sidewalk chalk drawings for about a year.
“It’s just a fun thing to do.”
Expect to see the tugboats and arrows again soon. Lynch and Gomez, along with co-owner Jake Gillespie, said they’ll continue to use the sidewalk drawings to direct people to their gallery.
Reach Gwen Tietgen at 473-7242 or gtietgen@journalstar.com.