As Sandpoint grows, so does its interest in art

SANDPOINT As Sandpoint grows, so does its interest in art.

That pleases Hope's Dan Earle, who believes the recently relocated Timber Stand Gallery, which now features modern art, may be a more permanent place

to display his bronze and fired clay sculptures.

'It gives local artists that do work in a more contemporary way an opportunity to show their work and view their work without having to travel to Coeur d'Alene,' said Earle, who will have six sculptures on display.

He can thank Jim Quinn, who recently reopened Timber Stand Gallery at Third Avenue and Cedar Street next to Sullivan Homes and across from Pend d'Oreille Winery.

The gallery since 2003 had been in the downtown's Cedar Street Bridge. The landmark building also occupied by Coldwater Creek was sold in 2005, closed, renovated and recently reopened for stores and restaurants.

Quinn for the past year 'kind of sat on the sidelines' before reopening the gallery at the former Nieman's Music Store. He remodeled the storefront owned by the Farmin family and managed by Washington Trust Bank.

'We gutted it to the walls,' Quinn said. 'There's all new lighting, flooring, ceiling and windows. Everything is brand new. It's a beautiful space to display art and it's a great spot for a gallery.'

He also expanded to include more than traditional art landscapes, wildlife and realistic looking types of art. The gallery also includes contemporary and modern art, including sculptures and paintings.

'We've been getting more and more calls for contemporary,' Quinn said. 'There's been no place for contemporary artist to show their works. We tapped into a demand. Artists have come forward and now hopefully we'll see response from the customer.'

Sandpoint Michael Pinchera has four of his abstract paintings at the gallery. He's hoping for the best.

'I was having a hard time getting people in Sandpoint interested in my artwork,' Pinchera said. 'People coming to Sandpoint come to the Northwest a mountain and lake place, looking for moose, fish and nature scenes, which is all very wonderful. I had much more of a calling to go New York.'

He believes Sandpoint is attracting artists from all walks of life.

'We've become more of an artist community,' Pinchera said. 'More people are talking about it. I think Sandpoint is growing into a different population than a number of years ago.'

Timber Stand Gallery's foundation will remain. Quinn will continue to be this part of Idaho's exclusive seller of nature and landscape artist Stephen Lyman's works. Lyman lived here for many years and died in a 1996 hiking accident at Yomesite National Park.

The gallery also does appraisals, restoration and custom framing.

Timber Stand is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday or by appointment and can be reached at 263-7748. The Web site is www.timberstand.com.