This photo appeared in the Syracuse Post Standard in 1997 with an article about our show "Twelve Years After", a 12 year retrospective exhibition at the Salmon River Arts Center. It's Hard to believe, but we have just put another 12 years behind us!
It's time once again for my New Year's post, where I take a stroll down memory lane and remember some of the highlights and in the case of 2009 low lights of the year we leave behind.
2009 was indeed a difficult year. The recession took a toll on our business and also our art. Framing orders were down nearly 50% over past years. That was a huge hit to our finances.
I began the year with several sculpture commissions lined up. All were put on hold. I hope at least some will still be realized when the economy improves.
Thank goodness art sales didn't tank quite as much. Not really sure why that is. It almost seems that logic might dictate otherwise.
The year was not without some high points. The best of all was our son returning home after a two year absence. It has been great to have him and our granddaughter around.
We enjoyed success at a couple of shows during the spring. Deb and I both sold well at the Art Literally show in Watertown and the St. David's Celebration of the Arts. We also sold a number of Edward Elhoff paintings and works by others through our gallery. We shipped a large Jeanne Dupre Painting to a customer in Florida and internet sales to a variety of states including Washington, Georgia, Virginia, Massachusetts and Canada.
Deb finished the year strong with a half dozen paintings sold through our gallery and sales in other galleries in Canandaigua and Vermont. We were once again included in a couple of prestigious regional invitationals.
Despite the economy, we soldier on, inspired by our many long time supporters who offer encouragement and patronage. We are grateful to have them.
2010 is full of promise as each new year is. We can only hope that things will improve as we move through the winter months and into spring.
We are once again scheduled to participate in Art Literally and St. David's and we will be hanging a two person show at Edgewood Gallery in Dewitt for the month of June. We also have several other tentative group shows lined up and Deb will as every year enter the Northeast National Pastel Show at Old Forge.
I expect to participate in the shows at the Gear Factory in Syracuse and will also again enter the Everson Biennial as well as other opportunities that always come along.
2010 will be the 25th anniversary year of our gallery and we plan to host a retrospective exhibition of our work sometime in the fall. Something we have never done in all these years.
Today we say goodbye, tomorrow we say hello.
We are planning to spend the long weekend in the studio, full of energy and new ideas.
Happy New Year! May we all have health, prosperity, peace and happiness!
