The art in my home is eclectic: block prints, modern impressionism, colorful sketches. My collection is comprised mostly of pieces given to me by artist friends over the years. Each piece represents a different relationship and a different time in my life. Aesthetics aside, for me, the joy of my art is in its personal history. That is the thing about art. Each work-from pottery to furniture to oil paintings-can mean something different to each person. To some, it might mean more than others.
Meet local art enthusiasts Peggy Townsend, director of Public Art Chattanooga, which promotes local art in public spaces; interior designers James and Peggy Laney, American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) members and owners of award-winning The Design Company; and Wade Brickhouse, artist and member of the Hunter Museum’s art selection committee for its annual Spectrum gala. Their knowledge of art is as expansive as their own collections, which are decades in the making. Still, they had to start somewhere.
GALLERY GUIDE
In-Town GalleryWhere: 26A Frazier AvenuePrice point: $30 – $2,500What you’ll find: Eclectic mix of original art by local artistsIn-Town works as a cooperative, meaning it is owned and operated by the same group of artists whose work is shown in the gallery. It is beneficial for the buyer as there are always artists on hand with intimate knowledge of the art. To keep the space fresh, exhibits are rotated out twice a year. Reflections Gallery & FramingWhere: 6922 Lee HighwayPrice point: $60 – $2,000What you’ll find: A wide range of local art; art workshops; and custom framingFamily-owned for 28 years, Reflections supports over 60 local artists from the Chattanooga and North Georgia area. In addition, it boasts the largest selection of frame mouldings for custom framing. Four exhibits are scheduled for 2015, including “folk art,” “rural south,” and “trees and skies.”River GalleryWhere: 400 East 2nd StreetPrice point: $5 – $42,000What you’ll find: A variety of art by local, regional and national artists; 2-acre sculpture garden overlooking the Tennessee RiverLocated in the Bluff View Art District, River Gallery has been a staple in the Chattanooga art community for 22 years. New exhibits open on the first Friday of each month with a reception and the artists in attendance.Gallery 1401Where: 1110 Market StreetPrice point: $100 – $65,000What you’ll find: All original art ranging from oil paintings to prints to sculptures and moreGallery 1401 recently relocated from Warehouse Row to the bustling corner of Market and Main. Representing over 40 nationally and internationally acclaimed artists, the gallery features many local and emerging artists.Area 61 GalleryWhere: 61 East Main StreetPrice point: $10 – $3,000What you’ll find: A little bit of everything with an emphasis on handcrafted furnitureArea 61 is owned by furniture makers Rudd Montgomery and David Crewe. While wood is their preferred medium, the gallery also showcases everything from sculpture and photography to water colors and jewelry.The Northshore Gallery of Contemporary Art (NGCA)Where: 505 Cherokee BoulevardPrice point: $100 – $8,000What you’ll find: A collection of local contemporary fine artFormerly known as Graffiti: A Hill City Art Joint, NGCA represents local and regional, emerging and established artists. Pieces range from large-scale street art to smaller works suitable for home or office.Reflections Gallery & FramingWhere: 6922 Lee HighwayPrice point: $60 – $2,000What you’ll find: A wide range of local art; art workshops; and custom framingFamily-owned for 28 years, Reflections supports over 60 local artists from the Chattanooga and North Georgia area. In addition, it boasts the largest selection of frame mouldings for custom framing. Four exhibits are scheduled for 2015, including “folk art,” “rural south,” and “trees and skies.”
If you’ve ever considered becoming an art collector, or perhaps growing your current collection, check out these established collectors’ practical tips. It begins, simply, with learning what you like.
Learn what you like