An art gallery no more
When Joel Weisbrod and his wife, Linda, came to Rhinebeck in 2005, they did their homework and reached back to Linda”™s roots to retire to; her grandfather had been Rhinebeck”™s “village smithy, back in the day when there were wagons and horses, not cars and automobiles,” she said.
Weisbrod owned his own computer software company in Long Island with 30 employees; his wife helped him run the business. “I”™ve always been a photography buff and love art. I did a lot of research. Rhinebeck seemed like the perfect fit for an artists”™ gallery, since there wasn”™t one.”
Gazen Galleries takes its name from Linda”™s grandparents, complete with horseshoe over the shop”™s shingle to connect with their community history ”“ opening in 2009. On Aug. 30, Gazen will be closing its doors at 6 p.m.
“I”™m not sure what happened,” said Weisbrod, looking at the art lining the hall of Rhinebeck Savings Bank”™s revolving showcase. “This seemed like the perfect place for this type of business, even in a less than perfect economy. I wanted to display work of local artists, who really have no financial means of setting up their own storefronts. I also put the emphasis on ”˜local,”™ so everyone who had pieces in our gallery ”“ whether it was a watercolor, jewelry or ceramic work ”“ was handmade here in the Hudson Valley.”
It also gave Weisbrod the opportunity to focus on his special interest: photography. “We had a unique collection of art that ranged from $25 to $2,500. There was something for everyone … but right now, no one is interested in art. I see galleries struggling everywhere, not just here, but in all the counties around us and in every state. What was once considered part of redecorating is now considered a luxury,” he said.
The photographer and gallery owner, curator of Rhinebeck Savings Bank”™s revolving art show, is not sure what the future holds. “I”™ve been doing some software work again. What I had hoped would be a retirement doing something I loved and helping fellow artists to showcase their talents didn”™t happen. We have already put over $100,000 in the gallery and just can”™t keep it going anymore.”
“It”™s a real loss for the art community,” said Doris Cultraro, who does stained glass work and helps her husband with his new shop in Hudson, A Collector”™s Eye. “Joel and Linda gave local artists a place to have their work on display. He”™s going to stay on to help us with the Studio Arts Tour through this Labor Day weekend. I”™m sure he”™ll stay involved … but the fact that we are losing the gallery has really hurt dozens of local craftspeople.”
While global media descended upon the village for the Clinton wedding jamboree with some touting it as the “Hamptons on he Hudson,” it didn”™t really help local business, Weisbrod said. “The restaurants and the hotels had a wonderful turnout. Yes, the wedding brought thousands of visitors to Rhinebeck, but none of them stopped to visit our wonderful stores. They lined the streets to gawk at whatever celebrity might happen to pop in and out of a car … and leave.”
Still, Weisbrod said, you can”™t enjoy the good times if you can”™t learn to accept the down times. “If people are going to make a choice between buying a painting or filling the oil tank, you know which one they will have to make. It”™s a shame for our artists, and I hope businesses will reach out and try to help them showcase their work. Linda and I have been through a lot these past 38 years … and it”™s only helped bring us closer together,” he said Weisbrod with a smile. “There”™s always a silver lining.”