Announcing the formation of Douglas Avenue Fine Art District

Eight fine art galleries located on Douglas Avenue in downtown Wichita (see list below) announce the formation of an association to provide visibility to the public at large for its member galleries.  The members are all independent retail galleries which have joined together to form a marketing entity and to provide the community of those interested in fine art joint exhibition and a variety of educational opportunities and experiences.  The organization welcomes the inquiry of a very broad range of those interested in learning about purchasing and collecting fine art from beginning to experienced art collectors.

Several times a year the organization will present and offer a joint exhibition in the form of a walking tour of the member galleries to demonstrate the range of art available for purchase in the community.

The member galleries reflect a very wide range of fine art in a great many media (including photography) and most periods of art from the 19^th century to contemporary artists from Wichita, the Southwest and Nationally.

The following is a list of the member galleries with a brief description of each member’s specialties:

Artists at Old Town  (412 E. Douglas, Ste C) is a collection of artist studios, classroom and exhibition space.  Artists work in many mediums including oil, pastel, watercolor, acrylic and mixed media.  Images traditional to abstract.  Monthly exhibits feature invited guest artists.  Opening receptions and open studios are held during the Final Friday Gallery crawl each month 6:30pm-10pm.  Hours are Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 10am-4pm.  Other times when artists are working or call 262-2435 for an appointment.  See us at artistsatoldtown.com.

The Frame Guild  (506 E. Douglas) does custom and conservation framing and specialty framing of art and objects.  The Frame Guild specializes in restoration of art works and art frames.  Hours are 10 to 5:30 PM Monday-Friday and 10:00 AM Saturday.

Gallery X11 (412 East Douglas, Ste A) is the longest running local artists’ cooperative in Wichita.  It will be celebrating its 30^th year in September 2007.  The gallery has grown to 20 artist/partners with over 20 consignment artists, all from Wichita and the state of Kansas.  The gallery exhibits a wide range of different media:  pastels, watercolors, oil & acrylic paintings, hand pulled prints, ceramics, sculptures, and photography.  The Gallery also places a strong emphasis on showing a diversity of aesthetic styles and subject matter, ranging from traditional landscapes, impressionistic paintings to contemporary abstract and non-objective paintings and prints.

Lawrence Photo  (401 E. Douglas, 1^st floor) is Wichita’s only gallery with a focus on photography.  Shows change on a monthly schedule with most openings and receptions coinciding with the Final Friday Gallery Crawl.  This is the gallery for art patrons with a major interest in the photographic arts.

Mid-America Fine Arts (401 E. Douglas, 3^rd floor), owned by Les and Courtney Ruthven, specializes in 19^th and early 20^th Century American art by noted artists, including many National Academy Artists.  MAFA has a very large inventory of over 1000 works in all media, including sculpture, by listed American artists, including over 450 works by 70 or more historically significant Kansas or Kansas connected artists such as Birger Sandzen, Henry Varnum Poor, John Noble,  John Steuart Curry, Clayton Staples, Karl Mattern, Alfred Montgomery and others.  Tour the selections at www.midamericafinearts.com.  Gallery hours are 8 am to 4pm weekdays or by appointment at 316-262-5888.

Milan Art & Design Studio and Art Gallery  (412 E. Douglas) is a multi-purpose studio and art gallery.  The studio space includes two working artist studios and houses two interior designers.  The Milan Gallery showcases local and regional work in a variety of mediums, from traditional to conceptual works of art.  Studio hours vary according to when artists and designers are working (in house).  Gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday, 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM.  Take a personal tour at www.360wichita.com.

The Wichita Gallery of Fine Art (100 North Broadway), which opened in 1977, is owned and operated by Bob& Lucille Riegle.  Lucille has a degree in fine art and Bob has a degree in architecture.  The gallery offers outstanding original work in contemporary realism, impressionism and tonalism.  The artists represented are from Kansas, Colorado, Illinois, New Mexico, Washington and Ohio.  Most show their work in major galleries and often are featured in publications such as Southwest Art, Art of the West, American Art Review and others.  Appraisals and commissioned work are available through the gallery.  Arrangements can be made for selected works to be sold on consignment.  Gallery Hours are 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday –Saturday or by appointment at 267-0243.