After more than two decades, one of Folsom’s most passionate purveyors of the arts is hanging it up. Cindy Abraham, of the city’s Gallery 48 at Natoma, has retired.
For the last 22 years, Abraham has dedicated countless hours and efforts to bringing arts to the community of Folsom. Her final position with the city was holding the title of Gallery Director at the Gallery at 48 Natoma, located in the art center.
“We want to thank Cindy Abraham for her dedication to bringing the arts to Folsom for the last 22 years and wish her all the best in her retirement,” were some of the sentiments conveyed by the City of Folsom’s Parks and Recreation Department as they bid farewell to Abraham. “Over her career with the Folsom Parks & Recreation Department, she has achieved so much.”
Among her many accomplishments over the years, Abraham helped develop the Gallery at 48 Natoma, which emerged in the art center in 2007. It is estimated that during her tenure, Abraham has hammered in over 12,000 nails for close to 200 exhibits featuring nearly 1,500 local artists, acclaimed arts organizations, and National Touring shows, according to her colleagues at Folsom Parks and Recreation.
Most recently, Abraham was instrumental in the development of the city’s annual Glass Pumpkin Patch, which began in 2019 and has continued to attract thousands to the city park each year to view and shop for unique glass blown artwork. Most of the artwork is themed around the harvest season and features an array of unique, one-of-a-kind glass blown pumpkins of every size, color, and shape.
“Cindy’s unique talents, keen artistic vision, and ability to seek out and attract quality artists and nurture emerging artists will be greatly missed,” the department added.
In addition to her work on the gallery and the many exhibits, Abraham has been a guest juror for numerous art exhibitions, most recently for the prestigious California Art Club and the Granite Group plein air painters. She has also long been the coordinator of the city’s Art Center programs, including weekly art classes in various media and managed numerous contracted instructors.
The main Gallery at 48 Natoma features work by professional regional and national artists. The Community Gallery showcases the work of local, emerging artists, students, and regional arts organizations. The Gallery is open to the public for free self-guided tours for individuals or groups from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. No appointment is required to visit during regular hours.
