BE: As we enter the New Year, what is the goal of Pearl Gallery? JE: Our primary goal in 2011 is to improve the quality of art that we display and to ensure that we can offer reasonably priced art and consistently exhibit the best local and regional art available to the public. BE: Does the gallery community work as a team in Tulsa?
JE: Everybody is supportive of each other, because we want to promote art in Tulsa. For example, Michael Benton of the Sixth Street Gallery and I share posters and cards on some shows to promote each other. We all concentrate on making our businesses successful. BE: Is Tulsa the place to draw new art aficionados from outside the state?
JE: There is the east coast and west coast art attitude and then there is the reality of art, which is do you like it, can you look at it everyday and where do you go to get good art. Tulsa has a good variety of artists and the important thing is getting it in the hands of people who want it. It’s good to have a good piece of original art and that is our focus. We do not do prints or giclÊes. We ask our photographers for the number of originals they print so that we can ensure our client does not have something that everyone has. Our niche is local and regional artists and original work. We hope as people visit Tulsa art is on their mind and that they stop at The Pearl Gallery. Many Tulsans travel the country and the world and the word is getting out that there is art in Tulsa. BE: How does your gallery support the community?
JE: Our support starts with showing local and regional artists so that they have a venue to sell their works. We have hosted events for the YWCA, and fundraisers for other organizations. I serve as board member of the World Services Council of YWCA and we support initiatives such as Uganda and Haiti. BE: The Pearl District has the Leon Russell Church Studio, Garden Deva Studio, Centennial Park, the
6th Street Infill Project and other activities to bring people back to the community. How do you feel about this potential for growth and revitalization? JE: Jamie Jameson (Finance, Urban Design and Communications Chair of the Pearl District Association) has done an extraordinary job of planning the direction of the Pearl District. The Pearl District Association is working to have a walkable
Janet and Doug Edwards, owners of The Pearl Gallery, with Winter Flowers, a painting by Doug. Photo by Trabar & Associates.
neighborhood with parks, grocery stores and The Pearl Galley is excited to be a part of that growth. The Pearl Gallery is open Tuesday-Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and by appointment. For more information, visit www.pearlgallerytulsa.com or call 918-588-1500. n Barbara L. Eikner is owner of Trabar & Associates, author of Dirt and Hardwood Floors, member of Leadership Tulsa and can be reached at Trabar@ valornet.com.
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