The Pearl Gallery Adding Luster to the Pearl District by B. L. Eikner
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The Pearl Galley, located at 1201 East 3rd Street in Tulsa, is in the heart of the Pearl District, which is situated in the center of the Elm Creek Drainage basin on the east edge of downtown Tulsa. From 1909 to present, it has seen a number of transformations from manufacturing of cotton, glass and other industries to decay. It has gone from apartment living to a decline in residential housing due to movement to the suburbs, and now a revitalization effort to bring people and life back to the area. The Pearl District, like many downtown communities, is on the rise with the addition of the BOK Center, Blue Dome area, John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park, Drillers Park, Greenwood Community and others bringing people and businesses back. Doug and Janet Edwards are the owners of the popular and well-known The Pearl Gallery. Doug is the artist in the house with skills from painting to woodwork and Janet is the collector, business manager and art aficionado. This interview focuses on the business of art and the impact it has had on the community’s rise. Barbara Eikner: What made you decide to go into the gallery business? Janet Edwards: We had been looking for a building to work in as part of our business and as a studio for Doug. Both Doug and I liked the downtown area so our journey brought us to 3rd Street and Peoria. The Gallery was an extension of the space. My background is business management, but as a child I was exposed to art and developed a love for it with the guidance of my mother who was an avid collector. She ensured many museum visits around the country for us as children. The love of cuttingedge art and the gallery being a natural extension to studio space are the two primary reasons for us moving into the gallery business. BE: Why did you locate in the Pearl District? JE: We did not realize until we started researching that the area was once called The Pearl. Therefore, we named the gallery after the district and spent many wonderful and joyful hours, days and months rehabbing the building. The location was perfect, near downtown and in the middle of a once prosperous community. We opened in 2005. BE: Doug, How long have you been an artist? Doug Edwards: I am a self-taught artist and have been painting, sculpting and doing make-up art for over 30 years. I have attended many schools/classes to develop my techniques and skills. My studies
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started at Sausalito Art Center in the late ‘60s, in fact I was on my way to Woodstock and made a left turn in Kansas and ended up in San Francisco. Make-up art has given me an opportunity to work with major and independent films and with such actors as John Carradine and Vincent Schiavelli (subway ghost in the movie Ghost). BE: Talk about your signature show, The Long Hot Summer! DE: One evening a group of us (artists, art lovers, etc.) were sitting around talking about nudes and someone said, “No one shows nudes in this town, because nudes don’t sell.” Then, all of a sudden, I had a flash back of a Paul Newman movie The Long Hot Summer and thus the show was born. Our first show was July 2006 and we used the brown bag and string as the shows motif. We covered the windows with brown paper to add a little drama (however, that did not mean anything to people under 35). We realize that we had created an age gap because the brown bag is not used anymore. (smile) The night of the opening, the air conditioner went out so we indeed had a long hot evening. The gallery was crowded with over 350 people and we realized that nudes do not sell but they make for a great show. We have moved our theme to nudes and whimsy to add spark for artists who do not do nudes. BE: What makes The Pearl Gallery stand out from other galleries? JE: The gallery reminds many of our patrons of the New York galleries. The feeling is great and when people come in, they do not want to leave. The gallery is about 4,000 square feet and having the kitchen has helped. The kitchen gives it a homey feel. Our clientele is varied and people feel comfortable to talk, mingle, meet new friends, view and buy art when they are here. BE: How do you find artists? JE: We are fortunate that artists find us. We have a reputation for being fair. Our average opening is 250-300 people so the artist gets a lot of exposure and opportunity to sell their works. Our position is to pay on time, which is important to the artist. There have been galleries that closed in town and the artists come to us to show their work. We do not do artist calls. BE: What are your upcoming shows for 2011? JE: We do four shows a year, one each season. The Long Hot Summer in July is the signature show. The others are still in the planning stage.