Thirty Years for Mari Stewart's Side Street Gallery & Frame Shoppe

In the autumn of 1979, as the relatively progressive 70's were about to transition into the relatively conservative 80's, Mari purchased the historic property at 28 Allen Ave., Arnolds Park from Mary Rhodes, who had been operating an art gallery in the space.

The following summer, on July 1, 1980, Mari opened the doors of her new business, the Side Street Gallery and Frame Shoppe, 712-332-5906, www.okobojiimages.com.

This summer, 2010, Mari is celebrating 30 years in operation. She tells me her Side Street Gallery and Frame Shoppe is the oldest business operated by the same person in the business district now know as Olde Town Arnolds Park.

Referred to by some as the historic art district, Olde Town Arnolds Park includes the Central Emporium at 144 Lakeshore Dr., and the businesses along W. Broadway St., from the stoplight at US Highway 71 down to Lake St. and Historic Arnolds Park, www.arnoldspark.com. It also includes two small businesses at the north end of Allen Ave., near W. Broadway St.: Clara's Clutter Closet and the Side Street Gallery.

Mari also notes that her property at 28 Allen Ave. is the oldest commercial building continually operated as a business in the entire City of Arnolds Park. I imagine it's one of the oldest commercial properties and one of the oldest businesses operated by the same person not just in Arnolds Park, but in all of the Iowa Great Lakes and greater Dickinson County.

Mari opened her gallery 15 years after the Lakes Art Center (LAC), www.lakesart.org, was established in 1965, at its original location, the Smith farm barn in Okoboji, just south of its current location. In 1969, the LAC moved to its second location, the small red building at the intersection of Depot Ave. and US Highway 71, south of Tweeter's Bar and Grill, also in Okoboji. The LAC moved to its current location, 2201 US Highway 71, Okoboji, in 1991, and it was renamed the Pearson Lakes Art Center (PLAC) in 2007.

For much of the past 30 years, the LAC (later the PLAC), and the Side Street Gallery were the only art exhibit spaces in the Iowa Great Lakes. Others came and went but none stayed long. Recently, however, the Lakes region has been experiencing growth as an arts and entertainment destination. In just the last five years, several new arts organizations have been established in the Lakes region, including but not limited to...

ArtsLIVE, www.artslive.com
Hanks Hall's Art on 16th, www.hankhallarton16th.com
A Piece of Work, Inc.: Emporium of Original Art, www.apieceofworkinc.com
The Wine Bar and Art Gallery, www.winebarandartgallery.com

It's interesting to note that Mari opened her Side Street Gallery and Frame Shoppe a full quarter century before any of these relatively new arts organizations.

Mari Stewart isn't just a gallery owner and framer, she's also a painter, and her work is on display at the Side Street Gallery. Here is her Artist Statement...

<< My painting philosophy stems from the beauty and diversity of nature. It is my goal to create the aura in which a simple flower radiates and stimulates the senses. Nature provides an everlasting challenge for me to capture the aesthetic echo possessed by life in its many forms. This desire to create is one of my most valued assets, and I continually cherish the ability and enjoy sharing my work. >>

Mari is also well-known for the "Okoboji Images" collection she started in 1982, a special series old photos from earlier years of the Iowa Great Lakes reproduced as poster prints. Her posters are still available at the Side Street Gallery and via her web site, www.okobojiimages.com.

In celebration of her 30th anniversary, Mari has recently made some changes to her building, plus she's offering some new events at the Side Street Gallery.

This morning, Saturday, June 19, I stopped at the gallery to meet Mari's new business partner, Jack Rees, a Midwesterner and self-taught artist who has been painting since early childhood and "has created his own individual but varied style." Jack renovated a corner of Mari's building, turning it into his new studio. He'll be painting on display at the Jack Rees Studio this summer, including Saturday mornings, when Mari will be hosting a new weekly event, "Chat with the Artist," in the Side Street Gallery.

The first "Chat with the Artist," earlier today, Saturday, June 19, featured Lloyd B. Cunningham, a photographer and certified SCUBA diver who had an enormously successful exhibit, "Underwater Photographs from West Lake Okoboji, Iowa," at the PLAC last summer. Originally scheduled from June 29 to August 1, 2009, Cunningham's exhibit was so popular that the display was extended for an additional month, to August 31. Several photos from his PLAC exhibit will be on display at the Side Street Gallery for the remainder of this summer. I had a nice visit with Cunningham this morning during "Chat with the Artist."

For more information regarding summer 2010 at the Side Street Gallery, here's a press release issued by Mari Stewart earlier this week, on Thursday, June 17...

<< Side-Street Gallery located in the historic art district of Arnolds Park features "CHAT WITH THE ARTIST" this Saturday morning with Lloyd Cunningham presenting his underwater photos of Lake Okoboji. Lloyd will be on hand to CHAT about his works from 11 to 12 with photos on exhibit thru the summer. Jack Rees will be painting in the studio Saturday morning and loves to chat and show his latest painting endeavors.

"CHAT WITH THE ARTIST" will continue Saturdays thru July--featuring Knotty Girl-jewelry trunk show -- Anita Plucker-watercolorist, Mona Majorowicz-oil pastel -wild animal artist, Connie Herring-hand made paper journels and crocheted jewelry, Lloyd will be here in July also along with Betty Haight showing her new bright oils.

Mari Stewart & Gene Hamilton collaborate on a show at the Witter Gallery in Storm Lake the month of August. The show, entitled "Wind, Water & Woods" displays Mari's new aluminum Mobil series: "Edgy Metal". Reception to be announced!

THIRTY YEARS PROMOTING ORIGINAL ART AND FRAMING IT ARTISTICALLY!

COME CHAT WITH US ON SATURDAYS AND ENJOY NEW ART--

JOIN US ANYTIME -TUES THRU SAT. in the ART DISTRICT of ARNOLDS PARK >>

Do yourself a favor this summer and visit with Mari Stewart, view her stimulating, radiant paintings, and check out her historically significant Side Street Gallery and Frame Shoppe in Olde Town Arnolds Park!

Thank you for your time! Please support the arts!