This is the short to medium version….

I  opened Artspoken Gallery and Studios in 2005 in response to losing my studio space and gallery representation because of a fire at the Guadaloupe Art Center and Vin Gallery in downtown Austin. I just needed a space to work in a cultivating environment and I knew others did too. Some of the original goals of the gallery were to provide original artwork, open art space, and professional studios for Austin artists and art lovers. In short, Artspoken Gallery and Studios evolved into a flourishing show space and artist community due to the effort and heart of many.

As many of you know, Artspoken Gallery and Studios turned into a full co-op last September.  I was overwhelmed with the business side of things and starting to have less and less energy for my artwork. The resident artists including Valerie Walden and Jan Knox were excited to help out. Special thanks to resident artist, Rebecca Bennett for managing the gallery for the last year. In January, I moved to Juneau while the gallery continued to function as a professional artist collective.

Knowing that long distant gallery ownership was not in my cards, the artists in the co-op decided to keep the spirit of Artspoken Gallery alive and move into a new location. Their new name is Austin Artspace, which opens in November. I’m so excited for all of them and I hope you will all continue to support them as they strive to enhance Austin’s art scene!

For more information on Austin Artspace you can visit http://www.austinartspace.com

And yes, I will miss it… the resident artists, the displaying artists, the patrons, the landlord, the neighbors, Bob the cat, my fight with the flower bed, the beautiful light in each studio, the stir of an opening, the inviting atmosphere, the blossoms on some unknown tree in the parking lot… I even got married there.  I am thankful for the opportunities the gallery provided and the replenishment and growth that took place in my life during its duration. And yes, I am relieved. Some things burn in your heart to do and some things only burn in your heart to start. In the 3 years of the gallery, I never really felt like the owner. I always felt like it was given to me just to hold for a time.

The Original Sign

One of the first 12 Buy shows

And of course, Bob the Cat