New business is truly a work of art
Posted: Thursday, November 26, 2009
New business is truly a work of art
Posted Nov 26, 2009BY CONAN DE VRIES- St. Lawrence EMC
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Conan de Vries, St. Lawrence EMC
Lisa Smith, owner of Prescott's House of Flowers and Pages bookstore, has opened the new King Street Gallery and will feature the works of local artists in a large studio space above the flower shop.
EMC Business - Prescott's main street just got a little more classy.
With the opening three weeks ago of the King Street Gallery, a showcase for area fine artists, in the former home of Pages bookstore above House of Flowers, Prescott has provided an opportunity not only to artists but buyers as well.
"There aren't a lot of venues for artists to showcase their work in this area," says Winhara Burrow, a collage and watercolour artist who is among the five presently showing their work in the gallery.
Michael Laking, Laura Wright, Steven Henderson and Christine Hillier also have their work on display.
The gallery was the brainchild of businesswoman Lisa Smith, who owns both the House of Flowers and Pages.
"It just occurred to me one night that Prescott could use an art gallery," she quips.
The large studio space above the flower shop, of beautiful brick and hardwood, seems ready-made for an art gallery, but before it was full of paintings and sculptures, it was full of books.
"I figured if it wasn't a bookstore, it has got to be a gallery," says Smith.
After relocating the bookstore down the street, Smith began soliciting artists to show their work in the upstairs space. Within a day, she had a couple dozen lined up.
"We had a very positive response."
On Nov. 6, the gallery officially opened during a joint open house with several downtown businesses, including the bookstore and flower shop, and the crowd that showed up for the event was a welcome sight.
"To see all that traffic in downtown Prescott on a Friday night was fantastic," says Smith.
And not just for the business community, but the artistic community as well. While the print business is a big one for many artists, there is also a market for original works, and now Prescott can cater to those who want to see and purchase originals.
"That's nice for the artists, too," says Burrow.
In fact, during the open house, two of the featured artists sold a piece of work.
Smith hopes the gallery can do more of the same for local artists and at the same time add a touch of culture to the town.
"We'd like to work with artists of all kinds and all different styles," she says.
Artists will be rotated in and out every three months, and Smith is eager to see the gallery become a destination for area artists and for those who admire their work. Though Smith admits to not being an art connoisseur, she certainly understands the value of the work now hanging in her gallery.
"I've never collected a lot of art, but I've always appreciated it."
Conan de Vries is a Prescott area freelance writer on assignment for the EMC.