Bham Buzz
dobbs
gallery 

By Mary Ellen Stancill
Photos by B. Gustafson

Greg and Brooks Wingo, who opened the new dobbs gallery just last month, have spent the past few years diligently researching, studying and preparing for their new venture. But when Greg walked into the Meelheim building on Second Avenue North, it only took an instant for him to know the spot was perfect for their new gallery. The century old, shotgun style space with exposed brick and metal beams, chipping subway tile, rusted nails and even a few stray spray paint marks or two had the look he longed to find in order to display the work he now represents by established artists who have never before shown in Alabama. To keep the space open and show it off as well, the Wingos currently only represent work by painters and mixed media artists, with plans to add sculpture and glass in the future. Mounted dry wall was hung over the exposed brick “to create a canvas for the canvas,” says Greg.

The location of the gallery is also a plus for the Wingos. Greg says they wanted to be in the footpath of downtown, to help build options for the growing number of people who walk to work, walk to eat supper or grab a cup of coffee and also those who walk to nearby Hawthorn Gallery. Keith Miller, owner of Hawthorn Gallery, served as an adviser to the Wingos as they prepared to open their doors. Now that dobbs gallery (named as a nod to Greg and Brooks’ Scotch-Irish ancestry) is open, the two galleries plan to schedule their openings on the same nights to attract a greater audience to the downtown arts district. Greg jokes that he’d love to describe his hopes for the gallery and promising downtown arts district as “a little bit of Chelsea in Birmingham.” Of course, this would cause confusion between the famed arts district in New York City and the booming Shelby County town just down the road.

Greg acknowledges that Birmingham has an intelligent art community, and he’s carefully selected his first artists—Mary Catherine Anthony, Deborah Brown, Addison Hodges, Chris Metze, Karin Olah, Daniel E. Smith and Kay Vinson. He adds, “I think you can lump art together into two categories: art that makes you think and art that makes you feel. We’re focused on the art that makes you feel. We want you to fall in love with a piece and an artist.”

A midsummer show will open July 18. Visit dobbs gallery at 2013 Second Ave. N., Ste. 100; 715-4488; dobbsgallery.net
January Birmingham, Alabama

  

 
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