Gallery 360
Merry Beck opened Gallery 360 in June of 2000 in South Minneapolis. Her friend and mentor, Peggy Ryan introduced her to the Minneapolis art industry through her former business, Triptych Winchester Gallery, which was located in Gallery 360’s current space. When Peggy’s business closed, Merry started Gallery 360. With the help of long-term employee, Laurie Meurett and other talented staff, they shaped the gallery into what you see today. What makes Gallery 360 unique is their passionately driven space with an eclectic variety of local talents. Gallery 360’s tagline of “Art in Every Degree” sums up their ever-changing collection of fine art and craft. The space is comfortable, and non-intimidating where a person can come in looking for a party gift and leave with a painting for over their mantle.
“I love art for all the intangible qualities, the way it speaks to you in a way that no other object can,” says Merry. When asked how she chooses art to fill her gallery, she replied with, “My artist selection is based on what appeals to me as an individual and what I feel will interest my clientele, offering a range of prices to accommodate a variety of needs.” Merry is constantly reminded that it’s important to take chances to stay exciting. Art should be the fun part of your search with planning an interior. It’s important to make choices based on what moves you or conjures a memory or feeling, art should express your personality and be something that you want around you for a long, long time. For more information, visit gallery360mpls.com
Everett & Charlie
Suzie Marty opened her art gallery, Everett & Charlie, in Linden Hills on Mother's Day 2018. The name of her shop is after her two grandsons and future artists. Suzy has loved art her entire life and has a background in both art and retail, so to her, it seemed only natural to open an art gallery. She wanted to provide a brick and mortar retail space that sells local art all year long, instead of only at the handful of art shows that Minneapolis holds. "The artists deserve to have a permanent space to show and sell their work and customers a place where they know they can find quality art and gifts made in Minnesota by really cool people," says Suzie.
There are plenty of things that Suzie likes about art, but beside the usual, color, composition, and technique, her favorite is most likely the energy and emotion that art produces. She feels that each piece of art holds a certain energy that is associated with both the Artist and the materials they have used to create it. Suzie says, "Visual art is like music. A painting can evoke different moods. It can cheer you up, bring you to tears, or remind you of something or someone special." She feels that knowing the Artist is an added bonus and that everyone has a story that they can translate through their work.
Everett & Charlie only features artists from Minnesota. Suzie feels that there is so much local talent, and a lot to be proud of within Minnesota's own art community. The gallery features art of all kinds - quality and value are important for what she looks for when picking which pieces to display in her gallery. "Customers can find paintings, pottery, jewelry, glass, leather, wood, and textiles in a range of prices," says Suzie. Not only will you find well established Artists in the gallery, but you will also have the opportunity to stumble upon a new Artist and their artwork to fall in love with. To learn more, visit everettandcharlie.com
Northland Visions
Ken Bellanger started Northland Visions out of his home in the 1990’s. It started off with gift packaging of unique Native-based foods such as herbal teas, wild berry jellies, authentic Minnesota harvested wild rice, and flavored honey and syrup. Ken’s gift packaging business had a lot of success as local companies like 3M, Target Corporate, Honeywell, and General Mills purchased his goods to give as gifts to employees or visitors.
With business continually growing, Ken decided it was time to open a storefront. He soon learned that he needed more than jellies and wild rice for his shop to succeed. He saw the potential in the diverse artistic talent from the Native Tribes of Minnesota and knew that he wanted to create a space for their work to be showcased. Ken partnered with his son Greg and together they found unique Native Artists and their art to bring to Northland Visions year after year.
Greg and his wife, Marilynn, have taken over Northland Visions since Ken retired in 2008. After eighteen years at their location on Franklin Avenue, the shop recently moved in 2018 to a space twice the size, in the historic Miller Textile Building in Northeast Minneapolis.
Northland Visions continues to grow and has a large selection of native beadwork, craft supplies, artifacts, sculptures, jewelry, and of course the Native-based jellies and wild rice that was the start of Ken's idea twenty-some years ago. View more and shop online at northlandvisions.com
