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| New artists, media, and technology all get a chance at Terra Gallery |
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 Simply stated, the mission of Terra Gallery (8 E Poplar St) is to put Columbus arts on the map nationally and internationally. What better place to start than the Short North, where the arts atmosphere is in constant bustle?
When filling his gallery, owner Jeff Hersey focuses his hunt on affordable, sellable art with a fresh look crafted by local, national, and international artists. He loves working with rising stars, and has an affinity for a diverse mixture of media, especially newer, less conventional media.
Currently gaining footing in Jeff's studio is Chris James, a recent graduate of the Columbus College of Art and Design (CCAD). Chris uses tissue paper and a layering affect in his simplistic, geometric pieces. Jeff says, "Layering and collages are becoming more and more popular. I think Chris' work is really going to take off."
Terra Gallery opened nearly one year ago. As he reflects, Jeff notes, "We have slowly grown. It has been a challenge, but it's been fun. I've met a lot of really interesting people. It has been most rewarding to work with emerging artists. We recently had a show for two Ohio State University graduates, and we had phenomenal success. We sold about twenty pieces in two days. The artists couldn't believe it. I couldn't have been happier to see the looks on their faces."
 New artists and new media aren't the only novelties at Terra Gallery. Jeff is also experimenting with new ways to display art. Through the gallery's sister-site, abstractearth.com, users can engage in an on-your-wall feature to see how different pieces would look in their homes. And in-store, Jeff has an LCD monitor that cycles photos of larger pieces of artwork displayed at other locations. He explains, "The LCD expands our offering. Some of the pieces shown on the monitor are 8-10', so they aren't practical for the walls of this gallery. But you can still see them here. We store some of them in our basement, and some of them are in the artists' homes, so, they're still accessible for purchase.
Terra Gallery works with private collectors as well as corporations, and honors personal consultation, custom framing, and requests for custom artwork.
Each month, 75% of the art in the gallery rotates, so you're guaranteed to see something new nearly every time you stop in.
For Gallery Hops, Jeff, who has his own blues band, signs musicians and performers to play in the courtyard just outside the gallery windows. In this sense, Terra Gallery supports a myriad of arts: performing, musical, and traditional. Weather permitting, Jeff will supply a band for the March Hop.
As he looks to the year ahead, Jeff sets his sights on new goals. He says, "I'd like to involve the community a bit more in an educational sense. Some of my associates are art teachers, and we're thinking of utilizing our space for art classes benefitting high school students and maybe even younger, kids."
Not only is Terra Gallery growing, but it is helping members of the community to grow and expand their minds. It is helping young artists to grow into their own styles. And it is helping the symbiotic relationship between art and technology to grow as well.
For more information on Terra Gallery click here.
by Morgan Baughman
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Posted on Monday, February 11, 2008.
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