The closing of the Sequoia Gallery on 3rd Street a few months ago has left a gaping hole in the fine art scene in the middle of the Cultural Arts District. The gallery and 12 artists’ studios were, at one time, a vibrant place filled with art and working artists who cranked out a lot of original work. Financial woes created a situation where the organization could no longer open the gallery. Now, the City of Hillsboro finds itself with minimal gallery options right where it has promoted many other arts!
If you are an artist interested in a 5,000 SF plus space with an incredible location and can coordinate some people and resources, this is your opportunity! This space is unlike anything else in Hillsboro and can be exceptional in the hands of the right people. The lease rate will be flexible, and the City will probably offer some subsidy under the current arrangement. I am available to discuss this with anyone interested and am aware of several individual artists and organizations who could make this work and want to make something great happen there. Check out the video below. I can be reached by text or call at 503-799-8383.
There are other options. The Walters Cultural Arts Center features artists on and off throughout the year in their limited gallery spaces and does a bang-up job. Also, the best gallery in Hillsboro is the Catherine Bede Gallery on Main Street, where she has proven that a tiny space can be a life-spring of art. It is a wonder to behold, so make sure you check it out. Both of those locations are open on Tuesday Night this week for Art Walk!
I found another art stop to enjoy Downtown: the gallery space at Dee’s Divine Finds, a new business located at the old The Sign Company space East of Collective Market at 3rd and Jackson. Dee’s is a fantastic new addition to the vintage stuff crowd. Dee is one of the most wonderful curators of all things cool I have seen in a long time and a fine addition to the Hillsboro business community! Welcome, Dee!
– Laura Hopper on Left – Dee – And Lieta Gratteri on the Right
Dee allowed two remarkable women, artists Laura Hopper and Lieta Gratteri, to show their art in her business for a while. Both are long-time artists and residents of Downtown Hillsboro. They are among a growing group of artists who put out top-tier work yet lack gallery space. We attended an art opening there on Friday, and let me tell you, it was a wonderful time. Something about viewing art in an old Taxi Garage surrounded by eclectic items from all over was just fantastic. It had that bohemian mystique where anything was possible, and anyone might walk into the space. The wine was nice, too. I’d love to see this continue for some time to come.
Their work was moving. I love crows and have had misunderstandings with them until recently, so when I saw these works, I wanted to take them home. Both artists had watercolors featuring crows, and both went home with me. I do not buy art that often, and if I do, it will be from local artists like Laura and Leita. They are that good!
Get over to Dee’s Divine Finds and check it out. It is a cool spot in what is becoming a cooler downtown. Again, if you are interested in the Sequoia space, please check it out and consider applying to rent or pursue this space, or call me. The information on the space and how to take a shot at it is here at the City of Hillsboro website.
Here are a few photos from Dee’s Divine Finds-
