Venture down to Art & Iron, where you'll find art, iron, and wood too.
The story below is from our March/April 2015 issue. For the full story download our FREE iOS app or view our digital edition for FREE today!
William Mahone
The focus of Art & Iron Gallery on Market Street across from both Fork in the Market and the Taubman Museum of Art is two-fold: Made-in-Salem furniture constructed of iron and reclaimed, oil-finished oak, cherry and walnut; and distinctive artworks from the Blue Ridge region, including those of Jonas Gerard, renowned for over five decades for emotively colorful works that have exhibited nationally.
"He’d never sold anywhere except from his own gallery,” says Jeff Sluss, owner of the shop and the hands behind the iron manufacture in Salem. “It took three trips to Asheville (where Gerard is based after stints in SoHo, Sante Fe and New York), but we finally came away with a selection of his work.”
The gallery, at 108 Market, has a warm feeling that Sluss compares to the atmosphere of a home, “where pieces from various artists are spread around, rather than clustered together by individual artist.”
The furniture is a co-creation with Sands Woody, whose touch adds a softness to a style Sluss calls “clean, crisp rustic industrial.”
The advantage of the manufacture taking place in Salem is that customers can view a piece they like in the gallery and then arrange to have a like or similar one custom-made to fit a space at home.
Furniture pieces range from about $500 to $1,500, and artworks from $100 to $9,000.
The gallery is a participant in Art by Night, on the first Fridays of the month, and Sluss says at least two artist appearances are being scheduled for March, with dates to be determined. 765-4844. –KR