A dream of three separate artists is becoming a reality, when Abbe Creek Gallery opens in the former Right Frame of Mind retail space this Saturday, Sept. 14, in uptown Mount Vernon from 6 to 9 p.m. A brief welcoming message will begin promptly at 7 p.m. Food, wine and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided.
“Bob, Chris and myself all had this individual dream,” Kimberly Machovec-Smith said. “And I have to think this gallery is only better with all three of us working together on the same dream.”
Bob Campagna said the discussions started shortly after the Mount Vernon Creates gallery closed last fall.
“Both Bob and I were having similar thoughts,” Chris Childers said. “Joe [Jennison, former MVL- CDG director and Chris’s husband] recommended I talk to Bob about this idea I’d been having about a potential art gallery.”
Shortly after, Kimberly Machovec-Smith met with Jennison as well about a similar idea, and he forwarded her to talk with the artists.
From that, the idea for a new gallery space was born.
The trio then were paying attention for spaces that might fit the bill, and heard that Right Frame of Mind’s retail space might be opening up.
“It just made a great deal of sense when we started evaluating the space,” Campagna said. “We’re really a complimentary business to a frame shop, with many pieces being sold unframed. Sherry wanted to keep her frame shop going, but was stepping down on the knick-knacks front.”
The group started the minor renovations to the space in late July.
One of the key changes was getting an off-white paint on the walls to brighten the storefront up more and help the art stand out more in the space.
“Each of us brings a different connection and skills to the space,” Machovec-Smith said. “Those all compliment what our business is to become.”
Items that will be for sale at the gallery include fine art, paintings, ceramics, photography, jewelry, pottery, glasswork, sculpture, weaving and publications, including books and artistic note cards.
“It’s all handmade or created from ideas by artists in the area,” Machovec-Smith said.
One of the things the gallery will be hoping to utilize the new space for is to be able to host programming with the featured artists at the gallery. They’d also like to offer classes on skills like painting, jewelry making or art therapy sessions. Local book readings, poetry readings and other arts events are also not out of the question.
“We believe that art has the power to transform lives, spark controversy, and connect us to our community and our world,” Childers said. “It is our hope that Abbe Creek Gallery will serve the community as a vibrant sanctuary for artists, art enthusiasts and curious souls alike. We invite art lovers throughout the area to join us Saturday, Sept. 14, and meet our team of artists and see their work in our historic gallery space.”
Campagna said that having curious locals pop-ping in has also been one of the things the trio has enjoyed, being part of the bustling Mount Vernon community and people being excited of what they might see there.
The gallery’s regular hours will be Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The mission of Abbe Creek Gallery is to celebrate creativity, foster community and ignite curiosity. We curate a diverse collection of art, seek to create a gathering spot for kindred spirits and invite our clientele to both explore new perspectives and discover hidden talents.
You can find out more about the shop by visiting abbecreekgallery.com.