Teaching gallery creates 'art adventure' for all

SANDPOINT – It takes a creative person to convert two floors of former office space into an artistic endeavor. But to completely transform such a space – to fashion a rambling gallery, working studios and a series of teaching classrooms from a honeycomb of empty rooms – takes an artist.

Enter Vickie Edwards, who opened Art Place in part of the former Sandpoint Title Co. location just over a month ago. With a career that spanned sales, marketing and management, the gallery’s founder knew she had what it took to pull off the business side of things. Add to that her creative vision and the package was all there.

The location – conveniently situated near the downtown core – was not the first spot Edwards considered.

“What really lit my fire was that there was this 1930s brick schoolhouse that was listed for sale on Highway 95,” she said, calling out the historic building just south of Elmira. The spot called to her and generated waves of possibilities. “I couldn’t sleep, I had so many ideas.”

When that deal didn’t pan out, she heard about the vacant office space just across the street from the Litehouse retail store on Second Avenue. At 4,000 square feet, the two-story building at first seemed too large.

“It was not my intention to rent something this big – I was thinking 1,200 to 1,400 square feet, tops,” said Edwards.

“But I could see the potential in all these rooms,” she continued, noting that she recalled the admonition from Yoda to Luke Skywalker: “Do or do not. There is no try.”

“I thought, ‘I’m going to dream big and go for it,’” the gallery owner shared. “So here I am.”

Here she is, right in the middle of a flurry of visual art, hanging from what seems like every available wall. In amongst it all are long tables set up in the larger areas and artist studios where offices used to sit. Edwards contacted about 20 local artists when she opened Art Place, both to announce that gallery space was available and to invite them to use the new surroundings as a teaching site.

“Instructors are hungry to find a venue that’s light and bright and has a lot going on,” the founder said, adding that she wants to help create an income stream for working artists beyond what they manage to sell from their own work.

“I just want to create a place where artists can be appreciated and make a little bit of money,” she added.

“Starving artist – it’s not a misnomer.”

According to Edwards, Art Place is focused exclusively on showing the work of artists who use the space for classes.

“I don’t have any outside artists who don’t teach here,” she said. “It’s a little perk for the artists.”

Art Place can accommodate showing up to 20 artists with about four pieces each and is fast approaching that number. At present, there are three on site artists with studios upstairs and one more studio space available. The open areas have been commandeered as classrooms for everything from painting and drawing instruction to working in textiles, printmaking, pottery and calligraphy.

The teaching gallery hosted its first class on April 5 and has a total of 39 art classes scheduled through the end of June.

“Are they all booked yet? Heck no,” said the founder. “But, for the first month, I’ve had astounding success, in my opinion.”

Edwards, who has served as president for the cooperative ArtWorks Gallery in downtown Sandpoint, believes there is a lane for yet another gallery in town, mostly because Art Place is only open when classes are in session. As to whether this community deserves the reputation of being an “arts town,” she gives an animated affirmative.

“Oh, yes. Definitely,” she said. “That’s why I’m doing this. Art Place is kind of a central clearinghouse where teachers and students can come and meet like-minded people. “It’s an art adventure. And a leap of faith.”

Speaking of adventure, finding Art Place – located at 120 S. Second Ave. – can match that description. The gallery is behind the Keller Williams real estate offices and around the corner from the Soup & Ladle restaurant. Look for the attention-getting bright red front door, which Edwards calls “the best $50 I ever spent.”

For more information on classes and studio space, call 208-920-0796 or visit online at: facebook.com/artplacesandpoint