Sisters Gallery & Frame Shop moves to new location

A new-old gallery is now gracing Hood Avenue just two doors down from its previous home. Sisters Gallery & Frame Shop is now located at 222 #C W. Hood Ave., in the same building as the new Toriizaka Art, whose owners purchased the entire building.

The updated gallery space provides a visual feast from the moment you stand out in front. Large windows previewing what you’ll find inside, a snappy new exterior paint job, and green awnings and potted plants beckon passersby to come in and have a look.

The remodeled interior is shiny new, with 10-foot ceilings, wood grain floors, museum lighting, and white walls and display spaces that show off the work of over 25 artists to their best advantage. Even the herringbone display of frame choices is artfully done. In the rear of the gallery is a large, roll-up, windowed door for easy deliveries.

Proprietors Dennis and Helen Schmidling are rightfully proud of their new digs. Dennis’ previous experience as a space designer for several well-known design companies is evident in the wholistic approach to the gallery space, beckoning visitors to linger and look (and hopefully buy).

The new space, at 1,500 square feet, is half again as big as the old gallery. The move was made due to the expiration of their lease and Lane Jacobson’s desire to acquire the old space for expansion of Paulina Springs Books. The Schmidlings left the old gallery on July 30, storing some artwork, with some artists taking theirs home temporarily.

Once the new gallery was finished, they hosted a soft opening during the August Fourth Friday Artwalk. For the September Fourth Friday they will be hosting the work of four artists who exhibit in the gallery. Painter Kay Baker and landscape photographer Steve Giardini, both of Bend, scratchboard artist Jennifer Hartwig of Redmond, and Portlander Mike Stasko, who creates landscapes using colored pencils on museum board, will all have their work on display for the Artwalk on September 23, which will also serve as the gallery’s official grand opening.

The gallery is representing several artists new to them since the move. Danae Miller’s cast bronze statues, prints, as well as pieces utilizing bronze and cast/fused glass are located throughout the gallery. Rochelle Carr, formerly of San Francisco and now a resident of Black Butte Ranch, works in a number of mediums, including paintings in watercolor, acrylic, oil, and mixed media, as well as sculpture and architectural pieces.

Brad Earl is a retired architect who now devotes his time to his former hobby as an acrylic painter. His work includes paintings of some of Sisters’ iconic old buildings in which his architect’s eye shines through.

Kim Black creates one-of-a-kind pieces out of gourds trimmed with turquoise, leather, paint, and wood burning. Well-known local artist Barbara Berry is now shown at Sisters Gallery, as is metal sculptor Ken Scott, whose Imaginarium used to be in the gallery’s new space.

Framing is done offsite by Dennis Schmidling in his framery on the first floor of the building at 220 S. Pine St. Dennis first experienced framing as a young boy, watching his grandfather in San Francisco, who was a well-known gilder and framer. He applied gold leaf throughout the Fox Theater in San Francisco, and Dennis has a photo of him hanging in the frame shop.

Gary Albertson purchased the framing business from the Rossettis years ago, after working for them when he moved to Camp Sherman. He added the gallery component to display his landscape photography and the business has grown from there. The Schmidlings had been running the business for Albertson before purchasing it from him.

Sisters Gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with Sunday and Monday available by appointment by calling 541-549-9552.