Last updated: Thursday May 8, 2008, EDT 10:25 PM
Watch out, Soho, Englewood has you in its sights. And the North Jersey town has something that New York will never have: relatively cheap parking.
Left: Jewelry at Ayesha Studio Jewelery
The number of art galleries in Englewood has grown in recent years, and the owners have joined forces to create an all-day gallery walk event on Saturday. Not only have seven galleries coordinated their exhibits to open the same day, but they have also invited restaurants to participate with discounts and deals. Artists will be present at the galleries’ daylong receptions, and guests will be treated to light refreshments. The Jewel Spiegel Gallery will even have a jazz trio performing from 6 to 7 p.m.
“The idea is to let people get the idea that Englewood is a place to see and buy art — not just shoes,” said Anat Klebanov, owner of Midday Gallery and organizer of the event. “With the addition of the new galleries, it’s really coming up nicely.”
Klebanov worked on a similar project two years ago, but only four galleries participated. Of the original four, only Midday is taking part this time around; six new galleries have gotten onboard. Participating this year are Arielle’s Gallery, Ayesha Studio Jewelry, Borghi Fine Art, Gallery 270 at Bergen County Camera, Jewel Spiegel Gallery, Mark Gallery and Klebanov’s own Midday.
“I think a lot of people, if they have the choice not to go to New York, will be happy to stay in New Jersey and get the same service and merchandise,” Klebanov added.
Englewood has become a destination in recent years, she said, and a springboard for galleries.
“At least one gallery that opened here within the last two years has already opened a second location in the city,” Klebanov said.
Gallery 270 will offeran exhibit of Rolling Stone magazine covers by photography legend Baron Wolman. Wolman’s new book featuringthose covers will be on sale, as well as large-sized prints. Those who purchase a print or the limited edition book($450, comes with a signed and numbered print) on Saturday will also get another print, priced at $350.
Above: Jerry Garcia, portrait by Baron Wolman.
“We’re giving away the store that day,” said Tom Gramegna, who has owned the gallery for 10 years.
Gramegna is a strong believer in collectible fine art photography. Ansel Adams prints that he purchased with paper route money at age 13 sold a few years ago at auction for tens of thousands of dollars. An Adams print on the coverof his Herb Alpert record “stopped me in my tracks” and inspired him to love photography, Gramegna said.
His parents thought he was crazy to spend $25 per print and refused to allow him to take $250 out of his college fund for that purpose.
“I still bring it up with my mother,” said Gramegna with a chuckle.
In business for 43 years, Jewel Spiegel has been selling art and frames in Englewood for longer than Gramegna has been collecting. Her offering this time will be traditional representational and impressionist-style paintings by Louise Hafesh of Cliffside Park and Adele Grodstein of Haworth.
“We also tried this about 10 to 15 years ago,” said Spiegel of the gallery alliance. “It seems every 10 years we get a resurgence.”
Although it’s too soon to tell how long the current boom in art galleries will last in Englewood, Spiegel is not worried.
“Build it, and they will come,” she said.
E-mail: shih@northjersey.com
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