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HONESDALE — At a picnic, talking to local artist Rob Sepanak, Bob Nell was turned on to the art world. Coincidentally, as he was fixing up a little apartment on South Street in Waymart, Bob turned to his partner Jim Rickert, and said, “I want to turn it into an art gallery.” Thus South Street Gallery in Waymart was born.
Now, while the gallery has seen moderate success, Bob reports, “We just don’t see enough foot-traffic in there to give the artists the recognition they deserve.” Almost a year after opening its doors in October of 2007, the gallery is closing them. However, as Nell likes to say, “When one door closes another opens.”
And so it is. When Bob sold the building to another art collector, James Longo, Longo, as well as his business partner, John Walpole, seeing what the gallery was doing thought that the gallery deserved more attention.
Being the owner of the old Wayne Independent Building, and happening to have unused space, Longo decided to work with Nell to open a new gallery at 742 Main Street in Honesdale.
Longo is the owner of a florist shop in Brooklyn, New York, and, aside from being an art collector, does flower designs for crafts shows and even some TV and movie arrangements. Longo got his start in art collection collecting old cartoon cells, the one frame stills that make up a cartoon animation.
Longo came here 14 years ago and says, “the craft fair at Wallenpaupack was always number one on my calendar. I used to see the pieces going and realized there’s really a demand for it out here.”
The new gallery, which is yet to be named, will use Honesdale as its main hub and hope to reach out beyond here. Seven or eight of the artists from the South Street Gallery will also move their work there.
Both Nell and Longo are quick to point out that this venture is strictly about art and an appreciation for it. “This isn’t profit motivated. It doesn’t have to make money for it to be a success. It’s about giving artists a chance to show off their work and people to come in and appreciate the work these artists are doing.”
They also hope to do a number of events to benefit a number of charities, especially breast and colon cancer.
The gallery will feature everything from painting to sculpture, woodwork, even antiques to help bring a warmer quality to the space.
HONESDALE — At a picnic, talking to local artist Rob Sepanak, Bob Nell was turned on to the art world. Coincidentally, as he was fixing up a little apartment on South Street in Waymart, Bob turned to his partner Jim Rickert, and said, “I want to turn it into an art gallery.” Thus South Street Gallery in Waymart was born.
Now, while the gallery has seen moderate success, Bob reports, “We just don’t see enough foot-traffic in there to give the artists the recognition they deserve.” Almost a year after opening its doors in October of 2007, the gallery is closing them. However, as Nell likes to say, “When one door closes another opens.”
And so it is. When Bob sold the building to another art collector, James Longo, Longo, as well as his business partner, John Walpole, seeing what the gallery was doing thought that the gallery deserved more attention.
Being the owner of the old Wayne Independent Building, and happening to have unused space, Longo decided to work with Nell to open a new gallery at 742 Main Street in Honesdale.
Longo is the owner of a florist shop in Brooklyn, New York, and, aside from being an art collector, does flower designs for crafts shows and even some TV and movie arrangements. Longo got his start in art collection collecting old cartoon cells, the one frame stills that make up a cartoon animation.
Longo came here 14 years ago and says, “the craft fair at Wallenpaupack was always number one on my calendar. I used to see the pieces going and realized there’s really a demand for it out here.”
The new gallery, which is yet to be named, will use Honesdale as its main hub and hope to reach out beyond here. Seven or eight of the artists from the South Street Gallery will also move their work there.
Both Nell and Longo are quick to point out that this venture is strictly about art and an appreciation for it. “This isn’t profit motivated. It doesn’t have to make money for it to be a success. It’s about giving artists a chance to show off their work and people to come in and appreciate the work these artists are doing.”
They also hope to do a number of events to benefit a number of charities, especially breast and colon cancer.
The gallery will feature everything from painting to sculpture, woodwork, even antiques to help bring a warmer quality to the space.
In renovating the space, Longo and Nell are stripping it down to its Wayne Independent heyday form, restoring it to the old brick walls and tile ceilings. The Wayne Independent was published here from 1892 to 1967.
“It’s free to come in, browse—you don’t have to buy anything to come in. Come and enjoy the art. The artists appreciate being seen.”
As for buying, Longo adds this, “Collect what you like. Don’t be concerned with names or styles. Come in and ask questions, allow yourself to be intrigued.
They are hopeful that the gallery space will open its doors in early November, and invite the public to stop in and check it out every step along the way. Anyone with any questions should contact Bob Nell at the South Street Gallery, which will be open until the new one is finished, at 488-9648.
