Downtown Ann Arbor's new Dancing Dog Gallery opens with 'tremendous' feedback
Artwork displayed at the new Dancing Dog gallery in downtown Ann Arbor
Courtney Sacco | AnnArbor.com
“We’ve had about a hundred people a night on weekend nights,” she said. “We were amazed. The big crowds come after dinner and after (a show at the Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase), which we didn’t think about.”
Dancing Dog Gallery and Ann Arbor Guitars now occupy the former Herb David Guitar Studio in downtown Ann Arbor.
Courtney Sacco | AnnArbor.com
The member-owned-and-operated art gallery opened in the former Herb David Guitar Studio at 302 E. Liberty St. on Aug. 16. It will celebrate its grand opening from 7 to 10 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 6 with music, food and, of course, art.
Founded by eight local artists, Finley said the Dancing Dog Gallery has artwork to fit everyone’s tastes.
The founding artists — which includes painters, sculptors, photographers and mixed media artists — are Matruka Sherman, Bill Knudstrup, Sophie Grillet, Sarah Clark Davis, Missy Cowan, Susan Clinthorne, Molly Indura and Finley.
Artwork displayed inside Ann Arbor's new Dancing Dog Gallery, which was founded by eight local artists.
Courtney Sacco | AnnArbor.com
“It’s just so nice to have people see (our artwork) and get feedback,” Finley said.
The owners of Dancing Dog Gallery are renting the first and second floors of the downtown Ann Arbor building from Herb David, who closed his guitar shop in March. Those spaces were listed for lease for $4,000 per month with Reinhart Commercial’s Bela Sipos.
Ann Arbor Guitars, a repair shop owned by former Herb David employees, is located on the third floor.
The first floor of the building was transformed into the gallery, with hardwood floors, open rooms and plenty of natural light. The second floor has seven private work studios that artists can sublease.
Bill Knudstrup, a founding member of Dancing Dog Gallery, made the gallery's front desk.
Courtney Sacco | AnnArbor.com
“The studios are full…we have a waiting list,” Finley said. “It tells us that Ann Arbor is a community that really needs more spaces for artists, and definitely a venue to show their artwork.”
The gallery also has 10 visiting artists, who pay Dancing Dog Gallery a monthly fee to display artwork in the gallery.
“We needed the renters, we needed the visiting artists, and we needed the beautiful gallery. And we’ve gotten them,” Finley said.
Leading up to the gallery’s grand opening on Sept. 6, the gallery’s hours will be: 12 p.m. to 6p.m. on Aug 29; 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Aug. 30-31; 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 1; and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sept. 5.
Finley said the gallery will probably be open six days a week after the event, and the hours will change. (Check the website for updates)
Lizzy Alfs is a business reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at 734-623-2584 or email her at lizzyalfs@annarbor.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lizzyalfs.
Comments
PineyWoodsGuy
Thu, Aug 29, 2013 : 2:50 a.m.
Wonderful news. Let's say you have a 5 room house. That equals 20 walls upon which you can display art and bring color into your home! Buy quality art! When you die (as we all will), you may have 20 pieces of art to pass-down to your descendants. That art may be in your family 100 years from now! When you contemplate all the utterly Foolish purchases we waste our money on, I say that buying a piece of art is Not a Waste of Money! When I arise in the morning, I love to look at my art, starting the day over a cup of coffee! Last week I acquired a Will Moses numbered oil serigraph "The River of Life." It is allegorical (tells a story). I Love, Love, Love it! Will have fun with my grandchildren and enjoying their interpretation of the work . . .
Robert D. Mosley
Wed, Aug 28, 2013 : 2:06 a.m.
I love art galleries. Thanks for this illuminating article and I will have to check this gallery out when I'm in Ann Arbor.
Hume
Tue, Aug 27, 2013 : 8:08 p.m.
There is one dog going left and one dog going right.
Jenn McKee
Tue, Aug 27, 2013 : 5:10 p.m.
The space looks gorgeous - sunny and really inviting! Wow. It's easy to see why people are flocking in already to check things out. Best wishes to these enterprising artists!
lorayn
Tue, Aug 27, 2013 : 4:26 p.m.
location, location, location!
andralisa
Tue, Aug 27, 2013 : 3:01 p.m.
Yay!
KB
Tue, Aug 27, 2013 : 2:05 p.m.
So grateful to have this gem in the heart of our downtown!
vida
Tue, Aug 27, 2013 : 1:36 p.m.
You go ladies!
Lizzy Alfs
Tue, Aug 27, 2013 : 1:14 p.m.
It is amazing to see the transformation with the hardwood floors and how open the space looks now. Cool to see the building go from one local business to another.
TinyArtist
Tue, Aug 27, 2013 : 12:34 p.m.
What a great job these artists have done with the building, not to mention their art. I would have rented a studio space myself, but I require so little room.
Linda Peck
Tue, Aug 27, 2013 : 11:03 a.m.
This looks wonderful inside. It is a beautiful space for beautiful art objects.
Dr. I. Emsayin
Tue, Aug 27, 2013 : 10:35 a.m.
A beautiful gallery with gorgeous art. This is one tastefully put together art experience!