Gallery 39 Opens With Exhibitions, Party

has made a name for itself serving Sierra Madre in framing, fine art photography, portraiture and various artistic services. Now owner Andrew Kasiske has acquired a new space next door and unveiled another project: Gallery 39, located at 39 East Montecito Ave. The art gallery and studio is sure to take their business to a new level of aesthetic expansion.

Andrew Kasiske, lifelong avid photographer and renaissance man, was formally trained at the University of Wisconsin and the Pasadena Art Center College of Design. Together with the help of his business partner, Chris Adams, the two make quite the artsy super-duo.   

This was evident Friday evening as Sierra Madre's artsiest gathered at their streetfront gallery space to celebrate the continued growth of their business and philosophy which, quite obviously, nurtures the spirit at the heart of a wildly talented town.

"Sierra Madre is an amazing art community, and we are very proud of that. We have had the frame shop and workshop for some time now, but we have always wanted to display art on the streetfront, and now we have this wonderful collaboration."

Finger foods, refreshments, splendid conversation and the mellifluous cello sound of musician Michelle Beauchesne filled the space and lovely courtyard into the night.

Apart from their own spectacular photos and hand-crafted frames, decor and fine woodwork, Andrew and Chris featured an installation of five local artists as part of their inaugural exhibit.

Included in the gallery are: painter Ginny Gutierrez, including several examples of her wonderful "regeneration" furniture; Ginny Liskow, whose mixed media works combine wood and wire; Hilary Wootton, a visual folklorist celebrating traditional Native American themes; and well known plein air painter Star Higgins, who has worked from Andrew's own landscape photos in the past.

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