‘Tying One On,” a colored pencil drawing by Eileen Sorg, is one of 70 new works on display at Cole Gallery this month.

Cole Gallery celebrated five years in business last Saturday evening with their Annual Anniversary Gala.

The gallery, located at 107 5th St. in Edmonds, was filled with more than 70 new pieces of art brought in for the occasion.

“We bustled with excitement all evening long as we celebrated five great years,” Shannon Black, gallery associate, said.

“Despite the snow, our treasured patrons came out in support and to enjoy some good old fashioned merriment with wine, hors d'oeuvres catered by Shorecrest High School Culinary Arts led by Tammi Johnston, and live jazz music by the renowned Richard Cole Trio.”

                                                 Gallery Patrons at Gala 

If you missed the gala, don’t worry, the show will be up through mid-February and is also available online.

As part of all the festivities, they are offering 10 percent off all paintings until Sunday, Jan. 29.  This includes pieces put on layaway. 

Rip Caswell also brought in new sculptures never before seen anywhere else, and they are at introductory prices for only 30 days. 

When Denise Cole began the gallery in December of 2006, she had no idea how much it would grow, but in the last five years she has seen her dream of bringing a national class gallery to Edmonds come to fruition.

“We initially represented about 12 artists who, for the most part, were local,” Cole said.  “Over the last five years we have grown to represent over 45 artists.”

                                   "Bike Lane" by Terrence Gasca

Shannon Black notes the importance of what Cole Gallery has achieved in the last five years.

“With galleries across the country closing their doors at a mournfully rapid rate, the healthy growth and continually bustling arts scene at Cole Gallery comes as a welcome celebration,” she said.

And the area Cole Gallery serves, both in representation and sales, is growing and evolving as well.

Specializing in Northwest artists, the gallery shows artists from Alaska to Arizona in all mediums including sculpture and jewelry. 

“We have gone from being a lovely little community gallery to being nationally known, “ Cole said. “The fact that we sell paintings to people all over the country has been a big and wonderful surprise.

“I am proud that through our efforts we are helping artists to earn a living with their art.  Every sale is significant.”

Gallerinas:(left to right) Jill Freeman (gallery associate), Denise Cole (owner), Shannon Black (gallery associate, press manager), Maddy Day (gallery host and Denise's daughter)

Cole Gallery has also grown their art instruction component. 

“We went from having maybe one class or workshop a month to now having multiple weekly classes and workshops almost every weekend,” Cole said.

“It's pretty exciting!  I would like to explore partnering with someone or an association to build our workshop facility and art supply store.

“Over the past few years, professional level art supply stores have closed, one after another.  We are now the only store of its kind north of Seattle and south of Mt. Vernon on the I-5 corridor.” 

For more information and to view Cole Gallery art online, check out www.colegallery.net.

                                         Richard Cole Trio