Today we’d like to introduce you to Donna Gates.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Donna. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Salmon Falls Gallery was started in 1985, it’s focus then as it is now, to show the works of artists living and working within 50 miles of the gallery. The gallery has passed hands a few times since 1985 and is now owned by glass artist Josh Simpson who lives and works in Shelburne. His work is one of the major focal points of the gallery.
Filling one floor of a 100-year-old building that once was Wirthmore Grain and Feed, the gallery’s generous 3,400 square feet of space exhibits more than 90 artists working in a wide variety of media, the unifying theme being the high quality of their art. Often I am told our gallery rivals some in Boston and New York. Certainly, this region is rich in visual artists, many nationally and internationally known.
The gallery overlooks the Village of Shelburne Falls and the Deerfield River, which flows under the beautiful Bridge of Flowers, once a trolley bridge. Salmon Falls Gallery is simply a great place to take in the view: inside you are looking at handmade works of art by local artists, outside the river flowing by and then over Salmon Falls, the gallery’s namesake. We are regularly told we have the best view in town.
Has it been a smooth road?
Certainly, the recession of 2008 was a hardship for galleries everywhere. I credit the loyalty of our local customers with the fact that Salmon Falls Gallery is still here with open doors and beautiful art to enjoy. We focus on creating events and exhibits that celebrate this specific region’s artists and their work. People are always interested in what’s going on in their own neighborhood! Our next step might be to help people from out of town get to know us.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Salmon Falls Gallery story. Tell us more about the business.
As curator and director of Salmon Falls Gallery, I get to pick: the artists, the artwork, the exhibits, as well as create events to introduce the public to our artists. I love meeting artists and meeting their art. I’ve been able to help artists create retrospectives of a life’s worth of art, or help with the process of finding the focus in an exhibit, My work days are always changing and I love that variety. Another joy is to display the artwork. Hanging an exhibit is a balancing act, finding that sweet spot where everything works gives me great satisfaction.
I am very proud of the job we do. Our staff is friendly and are artists themselves. We really strive to help connect our customers to just the right piece. I recently heard a scientist speaking about how beauty is essential to the well being of humans as a species, like an essential vitamin. I certainly agree! Salmon Falls is happy to help connect people with the beauty they need.
In this age of internet sales, mass production and instant gratification, we strive to bring a “slow art” experience to our customers. Come in, take your time, touch the work, understand the amount of work and intention that goes into each handmade work of art.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I hope that people will feel so refreshed by handmade art, either by doing the artmaking themselves or by appreciating the work of others, that there will always be a place for galleries and centers dedicated to teaching people to make their own art and craft. I think the speed of our culture will make this necessary. Our brains can only go so fast and can ingest only so much information at once. Beauty breaks in whatever form a person choose just may become more and more popular!
Pricing:
- Our inventory starts at $2 and ends in the tens of thousands. We hope to have something for every pocketbook.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1 Ashfield Street Shelburne Falls, MA 01370
- Website: www.SalmonFallsGallery.com
- Phone: 413.625.9833
- Email: salmonfalls@megaplanet.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/salmonfallsgallery/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/salmonfallsgallery1/
Image Credit:
Miki Desabrias, Josh Simpson, Donna Gates, Missy Ashton, Chihiro Makio jewelry, Diane Chester-Demicco, Terry Cappucci, Joe McCarthy, Archie Nahman, Josh Simpson, Mary Teichman, Marilyn Andrews
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