Page 32 - BusinessWest July 7, 2021

ists have of the space. I want to overhear an artist say, ‘oh, I want to show you my gallery.’ I know that I’m doing it right when they have that con- nection to it,” she explained.
“I wasn’t sure it would translate, and especially coming out of COVID, I felt so self-conscious about putting the model out there, to charge them money up front, even if it was a low rent,” she went on. “I’m an artist; I know how hard it is. But no one batted a eye. Right from the start, they felt they were buying into something that was bigger than just their small space. It’s the connec- tion, it’s the lifeline, it’s learning new things that are going to enhance their business.”
Art of the Matter
One of Rechtschaffen’s goals was to highlight a wide variety of art, and she’s done that, with the first 21 exhibitors — all but a couple of them women — working in media ranging from paint to felt to polymer clay. True to its name, the gal- lery aims to draw from local artists, meaning those living within a one-hour radius.
“We want to connect anyone coming to the Mill District with the wealth of art and artists in the area because it’s crazy how many artists are living right around here,” she said.
In addition, “it was really important to me to have both emerging and established artists shar- ing the space. For some of these people, it’s their full-time job, they’re artists, it’s what they do. And for some people, it’s very much on the side of what they do; maybe they want to make it a larger part of their livelihood, or maybe they’re retired and they’re just doing it because it’s a passion.”
Showing those works side by side forges
connections between artists and their vari- ous media — and so does a large gathering table toward the front of the gallery, which will host classes, workshops, and “conversations” between artists and the public.
Rechtschaffen related a conversation with one of the exhibitors, Maxine Oland, a well- known local artist who operates an Etsy page.
“I was like, ‘oh, would you be open to teach- ing a class called Should I Bother Having an Etsy Page?’” she recalled. “Because it’s a lot of work, and you’ve got to keep it up, and there’s
a cost involved. I get artists all the time saying, ‘should I bother? Is it worth it?’ What better way to have that conversation than with an artist who’s going to be honest and say, ‘well, for me it’s been worth it, and I sell X amount a month, and here’s the process.’
“So those kinds of classes and pop-up con- versations can happen with emerging and established artists, and those who don’t consid- er themselves artists, coming and listening and learning from each other,” she went on.
Lopes sees great value in the gallery’s focus on connection, calling it a “lifeline for artists.”
“As I’ve been able to see the space and the artists coming in here, especially at this time, where people are coming out of COVID, where everyone in the arts has been affected, it’s real- ly a place that has inspired artists,” she said. “I think it’s building confidence within artists and giving people hope.”
Rechtschaffen said the Mill District itself is intended to be a place that tells a story and builds community, which is why Jones felt an art gallery would be a strong component to begin with.
Ruth Levine says Hannah’s Local Art Gallery gave her a chance to move her jewelry from her garage into public view.
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