One of Flying Kite's most essential and beloved collaborators from our time in Germantown is in trouble. The iMPeRFeCT Gallery, run by the husband and wife team Renny Molenaar and Rocio Cabello, has become a neighborhood institution after just a year in business -- they have hosted pot-luck suppers, performances, and, of course, the work of over 150 artists. Now they are in danger of closing if they can't raise some money.

Cabello and Molenaar relocated from New York City, bringing their astute artistic eyes and community-minded ethos to a neighborhood that had a lot of artists but not a lot of spaces for them to gather. They have fostered the creative culture in Germantown, becoming a vital point of contact for a growing population of makers and homesteaders.

Now they need help keeping their doors open. The Annie Mae Jenson Foundation has awarded a matching grant for $3,600 and the gallery hopes to raise the matching amount by June 29 (their first anniversary) and to reach $10,000 by July 30. The goal is to develop a sustainable revenue model, enrolling monthly subscribers and growing their art sales.

According to local photographer Tieshka Smith, the gallery has become an invaluable asset. "It is a vibrant and eclectic space for everyone to gather and celebrate the work of many talented visual, literary and performance artists," she explains. "It is a creative incubator, seeding new and innovative artistic collaborations both in and outside of Germantown. And it is a social hub for artists and non-artists alike -- the go-to destination for many of us on Saturday nights. That is a win for Germantown."

"Our crazy hope to inspire art and to build community has been rewarded beyond our dreams," writes Cabello in his fundraising pitch. "Each month, we draw together the dreamers of this community at receptions, screenings, talks and dinners, parties and performances.  Our presence has made a difference.  We have brought life back to Maplewood Mall in the heart of beautiful, long-neglected Germantown."

On June 22, the Friends of Maplewood Mall will hold its first Block Party and Night Café. iMPeRFeCT's First Anniversary exhibition runs through June 29. Come out, donate, and enjoy the exciting evolution of Germantown.

Contributions are tax-deductible. To claim a tax deduction, making check out to Germantown Life Enrichment Center (GLEC) and include "iMPeRFeCT Gallery" in the memo. You can also mail or drop-off your check at the gallery: 5601 Greene St. Philadelphia, PA 19144. Click here to contribute via PayPal.

LEE STABERT is managing editor of Flying Kite. Follow her on twitter @stabert.

Photos by Tieshka Smith