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Salem artists decide it’s time to reopen gallery
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SALEM GALLERY: Kristina Danklef Moore sits near two of her paintings at DH Gallery in Salem. The recently reopened gallery is at 515 E. State St.
Local artists are displaying their works and sending a message to the community.
SALEM — Two local artists have decided that now is a good time to reopen their art gallery.
Kristina Danklef Moore and Kathleen Hill have done just that.
“I’m a painter; she’s a sculptor,” Moore said recently.
Their works are combined with those of other area artists.
But during these slow economic times, opening the gallery also sends a message to the community, Moore said.
“It says we believe in the community that we are in,” Moore said.
Moore does much of the work at the gallery, while Hill is a home-economics teacher in the Leetonia school district.
The gallery is at 515 E. State St., diagonally across the East State Street from the popular Salem Community Theatre, a natural draw for people.
“We want to promote our town. We want it to shine bigger,” Moore said.
The gallery had been located above the Friends Roastery, which roasts its own coffee beans and is located next to the theater. The new, ground-floor location expands opportunities for activities.
Moore also designs Web sites and logos and works in communities ranging from Akron and Canton to Cleveland and Pittsburgh. Those communities also all have art museums, and those people also come here.
Moore recalled a Cleveland couple who drove to Salem only to find the Salem branch of the Butler Institute of American Art was closed for repairs.
Moore also has worked with the Salem Historical Society, the Salem Preservation Society, and the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce.
Hill, who could not be reached, also runs the Daydreamers Art Studio for children in Salem.
The gallery recently had a swap-meet for artists.
“It was really nice,” Moore said.
The studio holds everything from large paintings and sculptures to jewelry from area artists.
“It’s interesting to see what people come up with. It’s about what other people see and feel,” Moore said.
And, she added, “It has to be unique.”
The studio’s interior is painted in a sandy shade unlike the typical all-white of many museums or galleries. Portions of the duct-work and other infrastructure were left exposed as a connection to the industrial portion of the building and the community’s history.
The gallery, along with other groups, is trying to draw more people downtown to take part in events. Moore said there are activities at local bars and eateries that seem to be sparking some discussions.
The gallery also plans events late this month, a holiday show, and a photo exhibit in January.
For more information, visit www.thedhgallery.com or call (330) 853-0132.
wilkinson@vindy.com