GALLERY AROUND THE CORNER: Frary Gallery

What’s new: “I am constantly working on events, shows and gatherings. Most are art-related, but not all are. I am a very social person and like to celebrate my gallery in many ways. We just had a friend’s 50th birthday party here. It brought in a lot of people who hadn’t been to the gallery before,” said gallery owner Lori Frary.

Local artists represented: Francesco Agresti, Lori Simon, Steve Capri, Fernando Madridejos, Julie Trigg, Tom Joyce, Susan von Gries, George Box and Lori Frary

The gallery’s hottest new artist: “It’s a tie between acrylic painter Lori Simon and Steve Capri, who creates art on wood panels that are like neo-frescos.”

The gallery’s most established artists: “Francesco Agresti, who has been painting in oils for 35 years and also teaches. He has a marvelous following and is avidly collected. I represent his abstract work exclusively.”

What the gallery looks for in an artist: “Originality of both style and content. The gallery is mostly about having artists who are self-trained, visionary and create from inside themselves and outside-of-the-box at the same time. I don’t have any ‘beach art.’ I look for art geared toward collectors of the unusual, not for ‘over the sofa’ buyers. I look for art you would design a room around.”

Modern misconceptions: “The most common thing I hear is, ‘My third grader can do that!’ If they can, send them to see me. Contemporary art is for people who feel an emotion when they view it. We don’t apologize for not being like everyone else. Most (people) collect emerging artists to get more bang for their buck and to be different from everyone else by not following the pack.”

The kind of art found in her own home: “Ha! Not much right now. It’s mostly been sold, or is at the gallery. My studio is my home. If it’s not on the wall, it’s on the easel, or a table, or the floor.”

Why she’s cut out for this business: “I wanted to control the sale of my work and help others market their art. It’s been a 35-year dream to own my own gallery.”

What makes their job fulfilling: “Meeting a lot of local artists and selling their work. For many it’s their first sale. But mostly, to have a gallery where artists can be free to create what they want, and not be boxed into making mainstream art in order to get into galleries. Having a gallery also keeps me socially involved in the community. I am also the president of the Rosemary District Association, where the gallery is located.”

Current show: Frary will host a gallery open house 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 6, showcasing Lori Simon’s artwork in the main gallery space. “There are a lot of artists that do layered washes of color, but Lori’s work is really bold and kind of ‘scratchy.’ It’s not edgy, but scratchy.”

Information

Owner: Lori Frary
Established: September 2009
Location: 1419 Fifth St., in the Rosemary District
Phone: 362-0021
Summer Hours: Noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, noon to 8 p.m. Friday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday
Website: www.frarygallery.com