Art of TodayGallery 29
ST. MARYS - In January of 2020, Gallery 29 was officially opened to the public in St. Marys for a brief time by co-owners, Jesse Gradl and Pete Winklbauer.
Before the gallery barely had time to gain popularity when COVID-19 hit, and the owners were forced to close for months on end. They only had Gallery 29 open for about three months as they had to close in March of 2020.
In August 2021, they had a grand reopening and with the reopening came new and exciting opportunities.
This gallery offers a number of services and classes to the public. The classes were always planned to be offered but it is only recently that they have had the chance to be offered.
“We offer classes so that everyone has the chance to try art,” said Gradl. They allow for everyone to try art as the classes offer a range of art styles from graphic and Prisma drawing to watercolor and acrylic painting.
The classes are offered for everyone of any skill level.
“I want to have something for everyone if I can,”
Gradl said.
Gradl, Winklbauer and Janet van Erden all teach classes at the gallery.
A class in Prisma painting that turns photos into paintings was recently taught by Gradl.
While classes may be the main event, the gallery also holds other events throughout the year.
In the winter, an ornament painting event for light-up nights will be held in which attendees can paint an ornament with anything they want.
The gallery also has group showings during which they display paintings from different artists local to the area.
Gallery 29 also displays paintings from artists throughout the world, but mainly focuses on art from locals artists.
Occasionally, the gallery may even display Gradl’s art as he himself is an artist.
Gallery 29 will be a stop on the LIFT Wine Walk in downtown St. Marys next month.
While the gallery focuses on many different aspects of art, Gradl said the gallery depends on variety.
“We need diversity to make it work,” he said.