Our New House: Bare Walls to Beautifully Adorn

My new house came with a lot of bare walls. It is a much bigger space than my husband, Mike, and I had before. (“Buy larger than you need.” Ever hear that advice? Well, we took it.) Two walls in our living room remained bare as the furniture delivery men positioned the new couch. Now the living room, decorated eclectically with two Zac Barnes paintings, are signature stops on el tour de la casa de los Krings.

The fact that guests linger in our living room can be credited to the inspiring staff at SouthWind Art Gallery and the even-more inspiring artists the gallery represents. One such artist Zac Barnes is known for both his paintings of Kansas landscapes and his works featuring women and trucks, the latter of which style I prefer.

We own two Zac Barnes paintings, “Bazaar Winter II” and “Redline Decoupage.” Friends and relatives linger because the paintings are well-done and make a person think.

“Bazaar Winter” (46.5X59) depicts a winter-turned-spring scene of women bathers in a stream. The landscape spans from St. Louis to Bazaar, Kanas. “Redline Decoupage,” well, I don’t know how to explain. There’s a bull, a cat, a windmill, a serpent, woman (of course) serving up a pan of fried eggs, a woman with money on her lap, champagne and two devil cupids floating around – and somehow the subjects all tie in together for a very surreal yet cohesive experience.

It’s fun to show off the artwork, but really Mike and I sometimes just sit on our new couch and look together, converse. These paintings in our home have created moments of bonding and stimulated intellectual conversation.

While it’s cost prohibitive to move too fast too soon again, I’m ready and looking for my next purchase. Art collecting fascinates me more than it ever has. (Did you know that some art is looked at as an investment purchase?) Thanks to SouthWind’s owner Gary Blitsch for exposing me to the art gallery business, and more importantly to fine art representing the best of Kansas found in his gallery.

I’m proud to buy art in Topeka and my experience at SouthWind Art Gallery has changed my life and spurred on a love of art and art ownership in me and my husband. Plus, we just have a much more fun living room to hang out in.

Thanks for reading. Please come by the gallery to find out what's happening or check back here for online updates. What types of posts/topics would you like to see on this art gallery's blog?



Gallery Hours: Monday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. SouthWindArtGallery.com

Framewoods of Topeka Gift Certificate Cards make the perfect gift for any occasion!  Gift certificates are good as cash for anything in the store — custom framing, gifts and even artwork at SouthWind Gallery Gift cards may be purchased online or at the store in denominations of $25, $50, $75, or $100.   

20th Anniversary Special: Get 20% off Framing

Come in for 20% off on Tuesdays through the month of August as we commemorate the 20th anniversary of Framewoods in Topeka.

Have your art framed your way by our expert staff and receive 20% off the total order. Take advantage of this money-saving offer and spiffy up your home or office!

Owner Gary Blitsch purchased Framewoods in 1992 (he's the business' third owner). Gary recalls framing up art in view for passersby on 29th Street. When he spotted people looking, he would gladly respond by lifting up projects to show them through the storefront window. The "fishbowl" experience ended when Gary expanded the floor space and the business in 1997 to include SouthWind Art Gallery. Two lines of business + one location = a convenient experience for art patrons.

Framewoods stays open until 6:00 p.m. on Tuesdays, giving those who work during the day an opportunity to take advantage of the special.

Make sure you never miss out on specials and gallery exhibit changes. Subscribers to our e-newsletter receive periodic updates conveniently in their inbox. If you're not getting these money-saving updates, sign up here.

Framewoods, where excellence is an everyday experience.


 

Framewoods of Topeka Gift Certificate Cards make the perfect gift for any occasion!  Gift certificates are good as cash for anything in the store — custom framing, gifts and even artwork at SouthWind Gallery Gift cards may be purchased online or at the store in denominations of $25, $50, $75, or $100. 

Hours: Monday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Open late on during Topeka's First Friday ArtWalk. Online at SouthWindArtGallery.com

 

What a Great Time To Be an Art Enthusiast in Topeka

My name is Lisa Coble-Krings. Off-and-on you can find me hanging out at Southwind Art Gallery, where I like learning about art & artists from Kansas. I’m a writer by profession, but I’ve not blogged much from my perspective, using my own voice. You see, I’m a multimedia communicator, and you may have watched videos I’ve edited and uploaded to this here website or photos I’ve shot for SouthWind’s Facebook page. I prefer to be behind the camera. Writing, like painting, is about putting yourself out there. I’ll try to provide some interesting tidbits about myself while I blog about being – for lack of better word – an understudy in the art business. I hope you read my blog posts. Here’s some extra motivation (a promise from Gary, the owner of SouthWind): Intermingled with my thoughts will be special deals for framing.

A little background on me: I’m a supporter of the arts, always have been. However, most recently my passion for and interest in art has been reignited thanks in large part to encouragement from and friendship with staff at SouthWind Art Gallery. Thanks for letting me use your site to contribute to the dialogue about art in Topeka. My passion for the arts is also fueled by recent cuts to state art funding. I dabbled in art throughout high school, and people who knew me growing up always knew I’d be surrounded by art - and cats, as a random matter of fact. (I own 1.) I love spending time in galleries and museums. Being around art is like an oasis and always takes my mind off of any trouble or stress in my life.

Why do I hang out at SouthWind? SouthWind Gallery is quintessentially Kansas. It’s an amazing space, so open and airy. There’s an unexpectedness here. I can look on the wall, see a wonderful painting and it could be gone the next time I come in. This is one cool business. I’ve never been that fond of sales, but the staff at SouthWind don’t come off as pushy salespeople. Gary’s in the business of building relationships, and he knows almost everyone who comes in. (If he doesn’t know you, he or his staff will get to know you.) It’s intriguing what propels people to come in the door - a painting for the new house, redecorating after a divorce, a rare print to get framed, heck, I’ve even been to a poetry reading at SouthWind. What will bring you in?

Maybe you’ll come in just to tell me you’ve read this here blog. Hint: I’m usually around during Topeka’s First Friday Artwalk and some Saturdays. Another hint: It’s a great time to visit SouthWind right now because the latest exhibit features Masters of the Midwest, including a new work by one of my favorite artists, Stan Herd. I’m also impressed by a painting of Anthony Benton Gude’s, the grandson of Thomas Hart Benton. There’s a Jim Cook and Debra Clemente that I’m fond of – so many good artists to talk about. That will have to wait for another day. Come into SouthWind and see the best of Kansas and Topeka reflected through paintings

I’m proud to be a patron of the arts in Topeka. It is a great arts town.
~ lck

Gallery Hours: Monday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. SouthWindArtGallery.com

Framewoods of Topeka Gift Certificate Cards make the perfect gift for any occasion!  Gift certificates are good as cash for anything in the store — custom framing, gifts and even artwork at SouthWind Gallery Gift cards may be purchased online or at the store in denominations of $25, $50, $75, or $100.