OPENING AN ART gallery is risky business, but I didn't know how risky until I was driving around town to visit new galleries. On my way, I passed 10 sites where galleries were once located - but are no more.
Here are some of the ingredients needed for a gallery to succeed during these economically sluggish times: Owners must be innovative, aggressive and knowledgeable; they must represent top-notch artists, carry a variety of creative styles and provide matting and framing services.Also important is location, as well as hours the gallery is open. Nothing puts a damper on a gallerygoer's interest than to find it closed.
Here are three galleries that have opened during the past two months.
- Repartee Gallery & Framework, ZCMI Center, downtown Salt Lake.
This gallery has a lot going for it already. Its owners, John and Sharon Swindle of Utah County, have three other galleries - one in University Mall, Orem; one in the Foothill Village, 1400 Foothill Drive; and another at 592 Main, Park City.
Repartee Gallery Downtown is smaller than the others but has an ideal location. Co-directors of the gallery are Michael Kay and Chris Christensen.
When I walked in the gallery last Wednesday, I was greeted by art representative Kelly Krumroy. Although she has worked at the gallery for only a short time, she was personable, knowledgeable and eager to show me around.
First, she directed my attention to "Little Utah," an exhibit of miniature originals by 33 Utah artists.
"The goal of this exhibit," she said, "is to make people aware of local artists. The artworks have been priced to attract beginning collectors as well as those with limited space."
Prices range from $50 for Andy Watson's ceramic piece "Desert Landscape" to $2,850 for Don Seegmiller's "Red." A number of the pieces fall into the $200 to $400 range.
Some of the other Utah artists participating are Richard Boyer, Marilee Campbell, Russell Case, Frederick Denys, Kent Goodliffe, Bonnie Posselli and Diane Turner.
But don't be deceived. You'll think you're looking at works by Kent Wallis, James Christensen and Al Rounds. But they might be by Eric Wallis (Kent's son), Bob DeWitt and Rebecca Hartvigsen.
This exhibit was put together and curated by co-director Kay.
Also popular at this gallery are limited-edition prints from the Greenwich Workshop, a printing company representing art by Utahn James Christensen as well as nationally acclaimed artists James Bama, Bev Doolittle, James Gurney, Stephen Lyman, John Weiss and others.
The gallery also carries prints and note cards by Rounds, Hartvigsen, Greg Olsen, Leonard Parkin, Anton Rasmussen and other Utahns.
In addition to drawings, paintings and prints are sculptures by Christensen, L'Deane Truebood and Kraig Varner.
A variety of mats and frames designed to enhance any print are also available in this gallery.
When asked how sales were going, Krumroy said, "We are one of the top sellers for our company." She pointed out that people are attracted to the historical prints of Rounds and Hartvigsen, the fantasy art of Christensen and the paintings of Parkin that capture an "amazing 3-D look."
She said that co-directors Kay and Christensen are aggressive. "There are a number of businessmen who don't have a lot of art in their offices, so Kay and Christensen spend a lot of time contacting them."
The "Little Utah" show continues through July. The gallery is located just inside ZCMI Center's Main Street entrance. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday.
- Art Palace, a gallery and frame shop, is located at 165 S. West Temple, across the street from the Salt Palace. Telephone: 364-0406.
Minding the store last Tuesday was Michelle Romney, one of the owners.
She explained that the Art Palace isn't like most galleries where the artist gets 60 percent of the sale and the gallery 40 percent (or sometimes more). Instead, it's a cooperative (co-op). The artists pay a monthly fee to exhibit there. When their work sells, they get 90 percent of the purchase price and the gallery, the remaining 10 percent.
The Art Palace spotlights four styles - contemporary, traditional, Western and wildlife. The roster of artists is most impressive: It includes painters Floyd Breinholt, Sharlene Christensen, Peter Myer, Thelma Parsons, Gary Kapp, Nancy Lund and others; and sculptures by Carol Dunford-Jackman, Stan Johnson, Gary Price.
"We wanted to focus on local talent," Romney explained. "All but one of our artists is from Utah."
About 90 percent of the works are original. The remaining 10 percent are prints by such impressive artists as Brent Bowen, Jan Henderson, John Jarvis and Anton Rasmussen.
Artist Bernie Tanner is exhibiting some fascinating art that's either very traditional or highly contemporary.
His contemporary portraits have hard edges and appear two-dimensional - with little or no modeling.
But his traditional art is much softer. To create that softness, he combines Nu-pastel, pastel pencils and Prismacolor pencils. A good example is his "Some Bunny Will Listen," a picture of four stuffed rabbits sitting patiently on a bench while a young girl practices her violin.
Romney said a new exhibit opens Monday, July 26, and continues through Aug. 25. Spotlighted will be portraits by Tanner as well as Sharon Marsh.
Gallery hours for the summer are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday. Hours are extended until 10 p.m. two nights a month - every first and third Friday.
- Ancient Future Gallery and Gifts, 1448 E. 2700 South (485-8921).
This co-op gallery consists of eight members - most of them from the area around Sugar House. They are Melody Burt (paintings), Sandy Craft (ceramic jewelry) Laurie Knowley (basket weaving), Luna (hand-painted silk clothing), Randy McArthur (paintings), Jill Prewitt (beaded jewelry) and Julie Tanner (stained glass).
Kari Taylor - the eighth member - is featured artist this month. She uses gourds to make dolls and vessels. She also displays some of her two-dimensional work.
During a telephone interview with Craft, she said that after finding the place, she contacted several artists she had known for a long time to see if they would be interested in participating in the co-op. Their interest was sparked, and the gallery opened officially on May 1.
Also in the gallery are works by consigning artists. Their art must be approved by co-op members before it can be displayed in the gallery.
- The owners of these new galleries have high hopes for success. I hope they'll find it. But they must check the recipe for success and see if it contains all the necessary ingredients - some of which are listed above.