Freelance writing by Lisa Mikulski : The Garvin Gallery

INK Publications – September 2007
The Garvin Gallery :: Shining in the Art Market
By Lisa Mikulski
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The art market is not an easy place to make a living. To participate in such an industry
requires hours of work, thousands of contacts, and a large amount of overhead. It is
fiercely time intensive and can be a very humbling experience. Many galleries come and
go. Many artists start with big ideas and dreams and then quickly learn the competition is
brutal.

Managing a successful art gallery is a true accomplishment, but to be full-time artist and
run a successful gallery is an artistic achievement seldom realized. Artist and Gallery
Owner Sandy Garvin, however, makes it all look deceptively easy.
The Garvin Gallery opened its doors in 2002. Originally Garvin was simply looking to
attain a small studio, away from home, where she could paint. The little alcove at 8
Novelty Lane was perfectly suited for the endeavor but fate presented Garvin with the
opportunity to use not only the alcove but also the larger space adjoining it. She
embraced the opportunity to acquire the additional square footage believing it would be a
space to present her own artwork in a gallery setting for the public. Garvin soon
discovered that she wanted to share the space with other artists and show their works
alongside her own.

The Garvin Gallery is not an artist’s co-opt and it is not a “something for everyone” type
of gallery, says Garvin who hand selects the artists and their works with the refined eye
of a high caliber gallerist. “Some people come in to the gallery and think, ‘this is not for
me,’ and they leave pretty quickly. Others come and spend a half an hour or more. They
are on a quest and are looking for a particular idea, artist, or color statement and they
really like to take their time.” Garvin hopes people will find the gallery as an oasis. There
is no pressure here. Art lovers can find escape sitting on the couch, reading an art book
or magazine, and of course by viewing the art. Ask questions if you like. Indeed the foot
traffic to the Garvin Gallery is excellent despite its rather discreet location.

The success of The Garvin Gallery is perhaps in part that Garvin likes to keep things
fresh and mix it up. Unlike other galleries which stick to a specific genre, the work of
abstract painters as well as those practicing representational art in the classical tradition
have graced the walls of The Garvin Gallery. “I think it makes it so much more
interesting to have different shows, different styles, and different ideas. I didn’t want to
just show my own work…yes I do sell a lot of my own work, but I like to look at other
people’s work too. I don’t want to be single minded. I like to be without boarders here,”
says Garvin.

The gallery has a large regular clientele and regular group of participating artists. While
Garvin doesn’t activity go in search of new artists she is aware of trends; and certain
abilities and techniques capture her attention. Regular artists at the gallery include Judy
Friday, Diane Aeschliman, Judy Chapman, Phil Parkes, and Laurel Friedmann among
others. Moya Aiken was the first abstract artist presented by Garvin in 2005. It was
nearly sold out on opening night. On the other side of the spectrum, the gallery is
showing the work of three young and exceptional artists, all whom are classically trained.
Hollis Dunlap, Jack Montmeat and Scott Waddell are all making a mark in today’s art
world and Garvin is excited to present them and support their work. “These three guys
are really going for it. They are bringing back classical appreciation to people and I think
they are really going to make it,” Says Garvin. The gallery shows and encourages both
established and emerging artists and each show runs for 6 weeks.

Gregarious and warm, Sandy Garvin freely shares her vast knowledge base with fellow
artists and the gallery’s visitors. She also recognizes the time needed to be quiet and
pursue her own artwork. Inspired by the work of John Singer Sargent, the Swedish artist
Anders Zorn and Mark Rothko, Garvin will often work at her own easel until midnight.
Her body of work also spans the representational to the abstract. “There are a lot of
different things that move me to want paint them, but I’m finding that I’m moving into
simpler state of being. I think a simple statement can be very challenging. It’s what you
don’t see that is, to me, compelling,” muses Garvin. Looking toward the future, Garvin
expresses a love for beautiful portraiture and with a sparkle in her eye she announces that
this is something she will reach toward in the next year or two.

An established and well respected artist in her own right, Sandy Garvin’s work has been
exhibited in several galleries besides her own. Exhibitions include the Florence Griswold
Museum Permanent Collection; Premier Etage Gallery in Newport, RI; Duncaster Solo
Exhibition in Bloomfield, CT; and The Pfizer Corporation. She has spent much of her
time at the Lyme Art Association in Old Lyme coordinating exhibitions and openings and
she became a member of the Board of Directors in 2000. She served as Artistic Director
at the association for 2 years as well.

The Garvin Gallery can be found at 8 Novelty Lane in Essex, CT.
Gallery hours are Weds-Sun, 11-5
Call 860-767-9481