New gallery opens on Hood Avenue

The saying that "one man's trash is another man's treasure" has never been expressed more vividly than it is at Grizzly Ridge Upcycle.

The new gallery, located at the corner of Hood Avenue and Elm Street, features art that is crafted out of materials that others have discarded.

"All our items are handmade from what they call 'upcycled materials,'" said owner Rhonda Barney. "People are just being creative with things that most people throw away."

Grizzly Ridge Upcycle features art from jewelry to whimsical sculpture, from wearable art to art you would hang on your wall.

Iraienah Garoutte of Eugene took home a hanging sculpture made of cookie tins and old oil-can spouts made to look like a bull's horns.

"It's so crazy," she said. "It makes me laugh. It makes me happy - that's what I like about it."

She plans to hang it by her front door so that everyone who visits her home will enter with a smile.

Though she's only been open for a couple of weeks, and the gallery is far from full, Barney has already seen a lot of that kind of reaction to the art.

"That's the best thing about this - it's awesome," said Barney. "It's just surprise after surprise after surprise when they see this stuff."

Barney is actively seeking artists to consign their wares in the gallery - and is looking forward to more surprises.

"My goal or my vision for this is that people will have to come back ... and see what kind of craziness is here," she says.

Barney herself creates painted, upcycled furniture, which is what led her into the gallery business. She wanted to sell her own work. She didn't realize that she was riding a growing trend toward this kind of artistic expression.

"I didn't realize it was so huge already in bigger cities," she said. "I knew I liked it."

Barney lives north of Prineville, but decided it was worth a commute to open her gallery in the thriving gallery district that Hood Avenue has become in Sisters.

"I think this type of art will be appreciated here," she said. "I don't know that every town would be receptive to this type of stuff."

Sisters has certainly been welcoming. Barney said that many people have stopped by to check out the gallery and to wish her the best in her new endeavor.

"It made me know that I made the right choice," she said.

To inquire about consignment, call 541-588-3070 or email [email protected] Grizzly Ridge Upcycle is located at 123 E. Hood Ave. in Sisters.

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.

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