Conley Publishing - Special Sections
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M a r c h 2 0 1 4 • N e w s G r a p h i c & D a i l y N e w s • Exploring the Arts • 9 237352001 By Gary Achterberge Conley News Service THIENSVILLE — River Edge Gallery certainly lives up to its name. Artwork in the picture windows of the gallery at 184 S. Main St. invites visitors to come in for a closer look. River Edge backs up to the Milwaukee River right in the heart of the Town Center. "What we're trying to do is take local art and present it to a different audience," said Kathleen Tatterson, who opened the gallery approximately three years ago. "Our belief is that we have world- class art and artists in our back yard," she said as she sat for an interview amid the work of graphic artist Daniel Fleming, whose "Marking Maps/ Mapping Marks" was in the midst of its six-week run at the gallery. The Ohio State graduate said that she and her husband, Bob, discussed the idea of opening the gallery several years after moving to Wisconsin. Prior to settling in Mequon, the couple had called Evansville, Ind., Spain, western Massachusetts and upstate New York home. Their two children attend Mequon-Thiensville schools. As soon as she saw the vacant store- front — which shares a building with London By Design, an interior design business —Tatterson said she knew it was the perfect location. The gallery features the works of different artists for six-week exhibi- tions, which generally begin with a reception. She said that the art tends toward contemporary. "We believe it's the only privately owned gallery in Ozaukee County," Tatterson added. The location on Main Street has helped attract visitors. In addition to drive-by and pedestrian traffic, she said that being located next-door to Fiddleheads had helped bring in many interested people. This year, she said the gallery plans to celebrate its third anniversary in conjunction with the annual Ladies Night Out event. Tatterson said she is pleased and encouraged that the gallery now is get- ting approached regularly by artists who want to exhibit there. She said other artists who have done shows at the gallery often will point others toward River Edge. "After three years, we're connected pretty well," she said. "We really have some very good artists that come in," she added. "It's high-quality and they do a fantastic job. It's just been a real great experi- ence for us." River Edge Gallery takes local artists seriously Art along the river Conley News Service photos by Mark Justesen Conley News Service photo by Mark Justesen Kathleen Tatterson