What I Miss About My Gallery

I have filled my home with handmade artwork, much of it from the gallery I owned until 2023, One of a Kind Art Gallery. I am surrounded by the creative energy of the artists who created the work. I have developed relationships with the art pieces I own and sometimes miss them when they’re out of my sight. They enrich my life with their beauty and comfort.

For the years that I owned and ran OOAK, I was also surrounded by artwork daily. And a sort of stillness, during the moments before I unlocked the doors, before I turned on the music, when I could wander the gallery floor, touch objects or take an extra moment to pay more attention to the detail of a painting, when I’d whisper to myself, “All I see is part of me.”

Once the workday began in earnest, the creative energy that surrounded me became vibrant and fluid. Running my gallery was a true joy, down to my bones and sometimes the sore soles of my tired feet. And I miss that daily jolt of energy and excitement.

I miss the people most of all: my staff, my artists, and my customers.

My employees were fellow art lovers, most of them artists themselves, who understood that the assignment wasn’t just to make sales. The assignment was to share the love of art and educate customers on why handmade was so fantastic. They also understood and shared my commitment to the local art community and my dedication to promoting my gallery and the area as a destination for art lovers.

And then there were my artists, every last quirky, shy, and provocative one of them. Every single one had a unique story, and their trust in me to represent them guided me to trust myself and my capacity as a business owner. I miss the feeling of anticipation when one would bring new work in, and we’d have time to visit a little.

And finally, there were my customers, from those who visited weekly for greeting cards and gifts to those who visited annually to those who stumbled on us on their day trip through the mountains. Customers provided me with the opportunity to talk about the area and the artists, which I believe is the absolute best way to sell a piece of art - to tell the artist’s story.

Lastly, I miss the extraordinary sense of purpose, that deep understanding that my work was making a difference in my community, that I was working for a greater good. Art adds spirit and energy and joy into our lives, and I miss being an art ambassador of sorts for the brilliant creators I represented.

This link will take you to the gallery Facebook page, now named Historic Micaville Building that chronicles the flood recovery. Scroll back a ways and you’ll see the gallery in all its glory.