Geauga County businessman Chuck Gates is gathering up area artists to help him fill Artisans' Corner Gallery with a collection of high-quality, affordable art.The gallery…
Geauga County businessman Chuck Gates is gathering up area artists to help him fill Artisans’ Corner Gallery with a collection of high-quality, affordable art.
The gallery is a Gates family project, with his wife, Barbara, son, Jeff, and daughter, Patty, all involved, he said.
“Last summer, I had this idea,” Chuck said.
He wanted to open a studio where local and regional artists could display their work and even create their works within the gallery.
In December, he and Jeff, who is in construction in Dayton, began the build-out of the unimproved space at Newbury Center just down the sidewalk from Zeppe’s Tavern and Pizzeria in Newbury Township.
The work included building interior walls, partitions, office space, a kitchen and restrooms — something both men have tackled numerous times over the years.
“Jeff and I have spent most of our lives in the construction business,” said Chuck, who is in his 80s. “The artistic atmosphere is being created by Barbara and Patty.”
Jeff set up his equipment right on the concrete floor and they went to work. Once the building was done, they started to search for furnishings on which to display the artwork.
“This, in itself, was a challenge because different artisans need special fixtures,” Chuck said.
He, Barbara and Patty haunted used furniture stores looking for the right items, such as a pair of off-white, ceiling-high Greek columns connected by glass shelves already claimed by one artist.
“This was the most fun. Remaking this furniture was like when you first were married and you used any old things that were given to you,” he said. “Thank goodness for Habitat for Humanity.”
The project opened new vistas for Chuck and Jeff, who were not art show devotees.
“That all changed. All of us now went to every show we could find,” Chuck said, shopping for top artisans who might want to display and sell art in Newbury.
“We have a limited amount of space, so we were trying to attract the best possible artisans. After visiting a few shows, we realized there is an abundance of fantastic artisan work in our area,” he said.
So they began narrowing their search down to what they believe will attract the public.
“The selection was very difficult because of the multitude of outstanding artisans in our area,”?Chuch said.
So far, they have artists working in paint, glass, ceramics, woodcarving and photography lined up to move in this summer.
Chuck said his vision for the gallery has changed a bit. After talking to the artists, he learned most of them prefer to work in their private studio and they really only need someplace to display their wares.
With that in mind, he altered the design to allow more display space and less working studio area.
However, several of the artists have agreed to give lessons at the gallery.
“We discovered there was a desire from the public to have classes and demonstrations at the gallery. We are going to try to establish both as soon as possible,” Chuck said. “This is a new venture for our whole family and we are looking forward to making this a noted place in Newbury and Geauga County.”
For more information, call Chuck Gates at 1-216-513-9402.
