Here, gallery owners are going out of their way to offer galleries that are user-friendly, entertaining and educational. Make no mistake, the galleries in Ketchum, like all art galleries, are out to sell art. Of course, any art gallery would claim to serve this educational and entertainment function and would deny that a gallery's business is merely retail. But in Ketchum, gallery owners are putting their money where their mouths are. Consider the Gail Severn Gallery, which recently opened its new and grand space on Fourth Street and First Avenue.
People have a tendency to feel uncomfortable when they walk into a gallery.
I wanted this space to be open enough so that they can flow freely and not dead-end somewhere. It's also supposed to be the kind of space that stimulates contemporary art appreciation, not just consumption. They shouldn't feel like they have to buy something. It's about exposing people to artists. I love the possibility of different community groups being able to use the space.