Lake Effect Gallery employee Karen Boersema isn't sure how to account for this summer's sudden boom in business, but she says it's likely the result of the gallery's new, more visible location in downtown Holland.
The gallery moved across Eighth Street in the spring to 16 W. Eighth St. Although it's not far from its old home, the change seems to have made a big difference. The previous location didn't have a storefront along Eighth Street, and it was a quarter of the size of the new store.
"We are extremely busy," Boersema says. "We've had a really good summer and spring. The traffic is three times as busy this year. It's amazing."
The new space is 2,700 square feet plus has a 2,000-square-foot, second floor studio for teaching art classes. The storefront had been vacant for five years. GDK Construction in Holland renovated the original wood floors, tin ceiling and brick walls.
Lake Effect Gallery owner and artist Carrie Rodgers-O'Neil is dedicated to offering local art of all kinds. Rodgers-O'Neil features her own paintings at the gallery, as well as the works of
20 artists, including graphic artist John Leben, oil painter Karen Michmerhuizen and Antoinette Houtman, who paints water gardens and koi.
Besides paintings, the gallery has prints, pottery, glass jewelry, hand-blown glass and music created by local artists. Framing and matting materials for the store come from Grand Rapids manufacturers.
Since the move, new possibilities have opened up for the gallery. On Thursday evenings and weekends, resident artist
Beth Charles of Holland paints acrylics in the front window where passersby can watch.
In August, Paul Zwart, owner of Holland-based Reflections Fine Art Gallery, will close his store and move in to Lake Effect Gallery. From there he will continue to operate his Internet business representing American artists.
Source: Carrie Rodgers-O’Neil and Karen Boersema, Lake Effect Gallery; Kara Barney,
Downtown Holland Principal Shopping DistrictDeborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected].
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