Briana emails:
Joy Carter, owner of Between Cultures, requested that I forward this letter on to the Maple Leaf community.
Unfortunately Joy and Bob needed to close their delightful gallery on Northeast 88th Street and Roosevelt Way Northeast to take care of Bob (Elam) after four months in the hospital.
Also, I’d appreciate it if someone can direct me to the folks of the Maple Leaf Newsletter, as that was where Joy had mentioned.
Thank you.
The Maple Leaf newsletter of the Maple Leaf Community Council can be reached here.
Between Cultures is the second gallery to close on that block of Roosevelt Way Northeast. The Snow Goose Gallery closed in February 2014.
Interestingly, the Snow Goose Facebook page became active again last month.
I do not live in the Maple Leaf neighborhood but have been a customer of Between Cultures since they opened. They made every “gift event” special by providing something that was truly meaningful – and doing it with knowledge, respect to the cultures their items came from, grace and poise.
Bob and Joy – I hope you read this. My very best to you both; good health, Bob. I – my entire family – will miss you very, very much.
I enjoyed each time I went into Between Cultures, thank you for being a part of Maple Leaf, and I will miss your gallery.
Indeed, this is sad. Here is a copy of the letter that Joy had asked to be published. She didn’t want to “simply disappear”.
“Thank-you to the Maple Leaf neighborhood for welcoming as well as being supportive of our gallery, Between Cultures. We are closing so that Bob can recover his health. It is sad but necessary. It has been a pleasure to spend our days in such a fun and happy place.
Thank you,
Bob Elam
Joy Carter
bcultures@gmail.com“
This is a really big loss to the community. Bob and Joy have an outstanding collection of African art. Once when visiting, Bob pointed out to me a piece that belonged to the late, great Richard Pryor.
This gallery is irreplaceable.