by Kirsten Coughlin
|
River Gallery
by Kirsten Coughlin |
|
Gallery: Owners: | |
|
Background:
"We started the gallery in 1992 in a location a half block from the Truckee River," says co-owner Jan Douglass. "We remained in that location until Jan. 1, 1997, when the Truckee flooded its banks and demolished our lower gallery. Two months later, we re-opened in our current location in downtown Reno."
Kinds of crafts sold:
ceramics, baskets, painted and carved gourds, jewelry, acrylic and glass sculpture, metal work, furniture, stained glass, fountains
Currently looking for:
art glass, $50-$150 retail, candlesticks, large and unusual enamel, something different for men
Prime customers:
Most are tourists, ages 40-50, primarily female. During Christmas and other gift-giving times of the year, customers are generally younger and more affluent. "Reno is a popular relocation spot for retired Californians, and they are often redecorating their new homes," says Douglass. "We work with several interior designers in the area, commercial as well as residential."
Signature crafts:
ceramics, raku as well as high fire (primarily decorative rather than functional), intricately carved and painted gourds, a variety of baskets; nothing country, very little Southwestern, some Asian influences due to the amount of raku the gallery carries
|
Exhibitions:
nine or 10 a year, mostly featuring paintings or photography
Artists are found through:
"I have attended shows in Baltimore, Md., Philadelphia, Pa., and Fort Mason, Calif., and I read craft publications," says Douglass. "But, over the years, we have developed a number of local [Nevada and California] people who are the core of our gallery. Many work in more than one medium -- watercolorists who make baskets and gourds, weavers who make jewelry and collage, etc. Sometimes my regular customers come to me with craft items they purchased on trips. They show me the artists' cards and information to help me keep track of the artists they like. Recently, I have started checking the Internet as well."
Pricing:
$50-$300 for craft items; prices for paintings are a bit higher
GALLERY OWNERS: |
|
Would you like your gallery to be considered for inclusion in Gallery Profiles?
If you are looking to attract new artists and new work, and you have professional slides or transparencies of your gallery, send your background information and images to: |
Purchase/consignment:
Most of the items in the craft and fine art areas are on consignment at a 60/40 split. Gift shop items are purchased.
Best-selling price points:
$50-$100
Gallery size:
approximately 6,000 square feet. The changing gallery, which is primarily used for paintings, is about a third of this space.
Number of artists currently represented:
50-60 craft artists
Non-craft items sold:
paintings, photography, candles, potpourri, paperweights, books, cards
Services offered to customers:
gift-wrapping, shipping, personal shopping, layaway, artist background information, special orders
Gallery location:
"We are in the downtown arts and entertainment district of Reno, a tourist destination and gaming resort. We are also close to the financial center and the city, state and federal courts," explains Douglass.
To submit work to the gallery:
Artists should call before submitting work in any form. Drop-ins are not accepted.
Why selling crafts:
"There are a lot of extremely talented people in this area, and I think they deserve a place to show their work," says Douglass. "What appeals to me most about selling fine crafts is that they are handmade and often one-of-a- kind. It seems that we are living in a time in which retail experiences have become homogenized ...
"Our gallery reflects the people who live here and have drawn their inspiration from this area and from each other. In every item the customer can sense that this is a work of love, pride and talent, whether it is a pine needle basket, a whimsical ceramic animal or a hand-carved mask."
Kirsten Coughlin is editorial assistant of The Crafts Report.
AUGUST 1999:
| HOME | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
