Paint Boxes

Commercial showrooms find sun flooded studio galleries as new neighbors in growing Near North arts district

Downtown art galleries no longer completely define art for sale in Naples. The industrial district north of Pine Ridge Road is becoming a place where customers set on buying ceramic tiles or decorative services may find themselves stepping into a nearby gallery or studio as well

Peg Goldberg and Joe Longstreth stand with Molly, one of the sculptures that would not fit in a downtown studio. Their new studio is on the often bustling streets in the industrial complex north of Pine Ridge Road. Credit: Michel Fortier/Staff

As in other cities, galleries and artists are lured to the district by lower rents, larger spaces and plenty of available sites. Since galleries above Pine Ridge have front parking lots, it's less a problem that roads have sandy berets and few pavements. You don't walk there; you drive.

Some galleries strike a welcoming note by displaying sculptures outside. But in any case the clients are coming, say these art dealers.

Peg Goldberg Longstreth, one of the owners of PLG Art Gallery, which opened at 5640 Taylor Road last January, says business "has been phenomenal."

She is happy about the space as well as the location.

"We have 5,000 square feet of space and show work by 30 artists," she says of a gallery where sculptures range from tabletop to as tall as 12 feet

"It's the kind of art you don't see in other galleries here," Longstreth says. "They don't have the space to show it, and we are drawing on artists whose work we have known for many years.'

Longstreth, an art dealer for 23 years, and her husband, Joseph Longstreth, a former antique store owner, operated Longstreth and Goldberg Gallery on 12th Avenue South for three years.

"We had enormous walk in traffic, but it wasn't a destination; it was a place to stop before or after dinner," Longstreth said. "This new gallery is ; a destination. We have 200 to 250 visitors a day in season. You can't get 8foot ceilings downtown, and owners there want $15,000 rent a month and a percentage of your profit We were willing to risk losing collectors by moving, but we didn't lose a single client. We are selling a lot of sculpture."

Its a scary thing to do ," she said of the move, "but all three of us are risk takers." How successful are they?

So successful we wish we had another 5,000 square feet of space," said Longstreth.

In November, Trudy Labell Fine Art; 1610 Trade Center Way at Taylor Road, will celebrate four years in its 2,000 square foot space.

"I had no qualms about the district when I took a lease." said Labell, speaking from a cell phone in her van as she neared a Delaware on an art scouting trip.

"Having been in the gallery business in New England, I knew I had 22 proven artists to show in Naples," she says. "Since I thought the district would be a good location I didn't really look downtown."

Labell says advertising has brought customers into an area that doesn't have the high visibility of Broad Street or Fifth Avenue.

"We have done well. People are now identifying the 30 artists I now carry: I have showed them for years. I find clients are more sophisticated. And important designers on Florida's east coast have found us."

Now Labell represents 30 artist whose works range from traditional to abstract and include paintings of Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.

Artist Fred Nold has had his high tech Nold Gallery at 2220 J & C Blvd. for three years. Nold has a 1,500 square foot showroom in front and a studio in the rear where he paints daily. By moving a large panel, he can close the studio from view

Nold, 66, is a White Plains, N.Y., native and graduate of the Parsons School of Design and New York University. He purchased his gallery and turned it into an attractive space in shades of aluminum and gray. His bright semi realistic paintings of jazz musicians, Naples landscapes and large, carefully painted florals are mounted in separate areas on the walls.

Nold, who created an alligator for the recent "Gators Galore" project, advertises both outside the district and on his own doorstep. He has designed a 9 foot fish mounted on a ball as his gallery's outdoors signature piece.

"Art should be fun," he explains.

"It's going to happen," he says of the gallery district growth here. "You've got to be dedicated to making it happen. I want to attract more galleries and photography studios here. There is a soft market on commercial properties in Naples, unlike residential properties, and that is attractive for art establishments."

"My great dream is to have a tram take the public from gallery to gallery on special days," says Nold. "They do it in Coral Gables. It will get the public away from the schlock art they see so much of. A lot of amateurs here call themselves artists. But I have news for them: You have to pay your dues."

How has his. selling been this year?

"With the economic turndown, it's not been one of my best years.. But I am confident conditions will improve. I will keep painting."

Canadian Susan DeWitt opened her gallery at 5405 Taylor Road, Suite 6, in early March. The gallery is bright with overhead skylights and an open space.

	Peg Goldberg walks through the Longstreth, Goldberg gallery as seen through the legs of Molly, a papier mache dog by Doug Chess. Credit: Don Wagner/Staff

"I find the district very exciting and it's been a very successful year. I think it's because we offer very different art. I was curator of a worldwide financial corporation, so I know the market," she declares. DeWitt exhibits nine artists who produce what she calls contemporary fine art.

"Having interior designers in Naples who are eclectic in their judgment is refreshing," she says of the market.

Artist Jo Ann Lizio offers an unusual approach to art in her space at 1895 Seward Ave., off Shirley Street. Atelier Lizio Naples opened March 1 and is a combination gallery and studio for teaching art.

"Last season, 1,400 people visited the space on a Naples Museum of Art tour," Lizio said, "so I know we're known"

Lizio, a native of Peekskill, N.Y., is a former chairman of the undergraduate art department at the College of New Rochelle, N.Y, and came to Naples in 1991. With 35 years teaching experience, she was recently education director of the Naples Art Association. Lizio, who also teaches at the Bonita Springs Art League, is currently offering three art classes, critique groups and topical workshops. She also rents the Atelier's walls to artists wanting to exhibit their work. She doesn't take a commission.

"The artist rents the space and mounts the show: If the artist can't hang it, we will do it for a fee."

Atelier Lizio Naples also offers special events and discussions on art and career related topics. These are often limited to 12 people, but Naples art dealer Richard Weedman's recent talk drew 16. Although she is an abstractionist, Lizio also teaches realistic painting and related subjects.

"People come to this Atelier because they want to learn what they need to know about the art business. Up north, for example, watercolor paintings do not fade as quickly as they do here. Students need to know how to care for their work and about art materials' potential health hazards."

Lizio said she feels good in the industrial district.

"There is a lot of camaraderie here. But we art people need to get together to discuss what we can do to make the district more attractive to the public. Most art people are helpful with each other.

"It would be good if we could have a distinctive name, like North of Pine Ridge. There are a lot of possibilities to explore"

Christopher Poehlmann, designer and furniture artist, is known for his distinctive tables, chairs, clocks and lamps. Unlike the others, however, he uses his Naples home as his showroom, he says. His high ceilinged studio at 5435 Shirley St., Unit 10, contains 1,300 square feet of space and houses his office.

Poehlmann does commissions for interior designers and is working on drawings of large chandeliers for restaurants, prototypes for production. He is also making a wall of lamps for a contemporary designers' showhouse.

"After living in Milwaukee 10 years and moving here, I realized there were no old loft spaces like older cities have. But I really like my space here and have access to a fine woodworker in his shop. There are a ton of these craftsmen here. It's fantastic and the rent is still affordable."

North of Poehlmann's office is Red Box Studio, run by Naples and Baltimore artist Tammra Sigler, at 5760 Shirley St., Unit 10. This is a working artist's space that is open to the public, Sigler explained. She has been here one year.

"The space here more or less suits my needs," she said.

Three faces by Italian artists Alessandro Serafini can be seen at the Longstreth Goldberg gallery on Taylor Road. Dan Wagner/Staff

"The name for the studio comes from a course I taught in Baltimore where the students had red boxes for their supplies. The name seemed to fit."

Sigler regards her work as expressionist and has a series of paintings called "Toys, Game and Puzzles" She also teaches painting classes at The von Liebig Art Center. She exhibited in the center's recent faculty show as well as showing in Bonita Springs.

"If I were to name it I would call this `the Creative District.'" said ArnoDeVilliers. DeVilliers, who was born in the United States but grew up in Capetown, South v Africa, has exhibited his , own paintings of Italian coastal scenes in his Arno Mediterranean Gallery, 2081 J & C Blvd., for nine months.

But this gallery which displays about a dozen large, good and colorful paintings, including one of the Naples dock, is also DeVilliers' architectural office.

"My architectural business is doing so well I have little time to concentrate on painting," he said, breaking away from clients to speak. While he says his own art is not selling, he said he sees potential for art business in this district Peg Longstreth makes on a comparison.

"The difference here is this: Downtown two, four, six or eight people, will come in and nothing happens. Here in the district there is a sale per six visitors:' Still, she knows a visitor downtown can easily step into. 15 galleries in no time at all, whereas you have to '. really look to find galleries in the district.

"We could use three or four more serious galleries up here," she said. Her tone emphasized "serious"

The district is also known for its furniture. Resign, architectural firms and woodworking shops. Here is a random look at places that sell original and usually handmade, one of a kind art. The Picture Factory, 1860 J & C Blvd., and the Picture Warehouse, 6062 Taylor Road, are familiar to bargain hunters.

More a store than a gallery, Tribal Findings, 5974 Taylor Road, offers hand carved African wood sculptures,.Mexican furniture, mirrors, pottery and silk flowers in its rooms. Over three years Roger Harris has filled the space with imports; he buys abroad several times a year. Carol Lockerby recently joined Tribal Findings with her silk flowers, arrangements and interior designs.

Lockerby is pleased customers find the prices lower than elsewhere in Naples. She recalls, "One customer said, `I paid $200 more than what you are asking for this large giraffe'"

That, too, draws customers to this district.

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