A red door is all that distinguishes the otherwise simple, white building façade. The sizable "R" above the door is large enough for passers-by to notice, but it is merely the remnant of the previous business, Priceless Works.
Since the Form Space Light gallery is hidden in the alleyway behind the PCC Market in Fremont, many probably don't know it exists.
Endless possibilities
Owner John Parkinson has moved into the space, which, despite its location, has proven by his predecessors to be ideal for a small, yet interesting art gallery.
With a site full of potential, Parkinson, who opened his business in February, seems almost overwhelmed by the possibilities.
"We're kind of experimenting," Parkinson mused. "We will probably have mostly paintings and sculpture, but I would like to have prints, photography, and then we're having a ceramics show.... So pretty much traditional media and probably fairly emerging, mid-career-type artists."
Gearing up for business
Built in 1905, the building at 619 N. 35th St. is home to various offices and businesses.
Inside of Suite 100, Form Space Light is one of the few full-time galleries in Fremont. Parkinson keeps hours on weekends, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., or by appointment.
So far, two artists have exhibited work. Kip Brown showed his oil paintings, a combination of nudes, portraits, landscapes and some abstract pieces, influenced by his trip to Indonesia. Yvette Franz displayed her oil paintings and a few porcelain sculptures in The Outside of a Horse exhibit.
The next show will feature ceramics by four artists, organized by local ceramic artist John Harris.
Open to a range of media, Parkinson is still exploring options for the upcoming lineup and welcoming contact from interested artists. So far, he has three shows secured for this year. "I think he's still forming that idea, where he wants the gallery to go," Franz said.
A range of abilities
A licensed contractor, Parkinson also attended art school. Parkinson continues to make time for his own paintings and sculptures, as well as keeping abreast of the Seattle art scene. As such, his gallery shares the name of his design/build company.
The gallery space's availability seemed a fortuitous opportunity for him. "When it happened, it seemed like a real natural outgrowth of my prior experience and interest," Parkinson said.
Parkinson already rented an office in the same building for the last four years, and when owner Mike Peck decided to lease it after the gallery Priceless Works moved out, he approached Peck.
Parkinson now has room for his office, plans to designate a room as an artist work studio and plans to devote a side room to more affordable, 2-D and 3-D pieces, such as unframed prints.
A history of success
Parkinson is still running ideas through his head. "We don't really have a clear identity yet," he said.
But if it proves anything like previous tenants, Parkinson's gallery is on the road to success.
Peck, who owns the building, has witnessed a variety of talents pass through Suite 100.
The space was once home to Elliott Brown Gallery, a renown dealer and appraiser of glass art. Owner Kate Elliott called the space home for about eight years.
Known as a "destination location," people specifically sought it out.
Elliott was a student of Dale Chihuly's and brought international artists to Fremont and, according to Peck, sold pieces for as much as $80,000.
The space was most recently occupied by Peck's daughter, Ragan, who called her gallery Priceless Works.
Ragan Peck owned it for about two years, until last October. She hosted young, often avant-garde artists, and rejuvenated the Fremont Art Walk, which takes place the first Friday of the month.
"It was a full range of media: glass, photography, sculpture - mostly young artists that hadn't yet received a lot of notoriety," Peck said.
Peck, himself a ceramic artist, is excited about Parkinson's addition. "Every gallery has its own personality, with what kind of stuff they bring in. I'm looking forward to a new change," he said.
Finding an audience
While Form Space Light won't be as narrowly focused as Brown's gallery, nor as avant-garde as Priceless Works, like Peck and Elliott, Parkinson will need to get the word out to remind people of his space in the alley.
He is starting with his participation in the Fremont Art Walk. He said he owes a lot of his store traffic to the first Friday of every month.
But according to Peck, it really just depends on advertising, word-of-mouth and reviews, along with displaying quality work, and Parkinson plans to do just that.
Abby Lund writes about places Off the Beaten Path on the third Wednesday of the month. She can be reached at needitor@nwlink.com.
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