Have you spotted Seven Arts Gallery on Route 7? They're a great addition to the local arts scene, with frequently rotating shows that explore a variety of artistic styles. The owner, Paul Fernandez-Carol, is a local resident with a passion for his gallery that is truly radiant. After attending a recent gallery opening at Seven Arts and speaking with Paul, I knew we needed to share more about him with our readers.
At HamletHub, we love to share the stories of our neighbors and the gems in our communities. With this in mind, we'll be featuring interesting "people about town." Do you have a story to tell? Is there someone you'd like to know more about? Let us know! We'll try to track them down!
Here are some words from Seven Arts Gallery's owner Paul. Be sure to visit the gallery, located at 54 Ethan Allen Highway in the Branchville region of Ridgefield, Connecticut. Click to "like" Seven Arts on facebook and twitter!
1. Describe your business. What does it aim to bring to the community?
Seven Arts is a gallery focused on showcasing contemporary artists in CT and at times there is some branching out to neighboring states to pursue artists whom I feel need to be promoted and celebrated. Service to the community is getting artists and art genres exposed to a suburban population that is often overrepresented with traditional art subject matter (i.e., still lives, boat harbors, animal scenes, etc.).
This gallery was a consequence of having to go to NYC way too often to get my fill of contemporary and urban art; I felt like this was a market that was gaining interest out here, but just did not have sufficient representation or exposure. I am an artist myself, so this was something I felt could be workable, as well as very beneficial to our community.
3. If you could choose any person to be your business partner and mentor for a month, who would you choose?
A great marketing manager with art gallery experience, or a seasoned art gallery owner. The ability to find collectors, plan shows, and build a client list is essential to survival in the art business. Spending your money in order to grow your business is always a bit of a gamble, so finding the best ways to maximize your advertising/marketing spending would be a great learning experience for me. Either that, or a month with a top-notch CPA, haha...
4. What is your favorite place in your town, and why?
My favorite place in town might be the Little Pub. Great comfort food on the menu, great rotation of the beer selection, and a very democratic system of getting a table...No Reservations!
Gallery Hours: Thu - Fri: 4:30 pm - 7:00 pm, Sat: 11:00 am - 7:00 pm, Sun: 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Photo from Seven Arts facebook page