Meetbrthe husband-and-wife team behind Blue Pomegranate Gallery.
There'sbrart in the Square … and not just the festival that's getting all the buzz thisbrmonth. Blue Pomegranate Gallery, the eclectic shop nestled in Southlake TownbrSquare, is bursting with all kinds of colorful, unique pieces. We caught upbrwith owner Sondra Gerber to chat about Blue Pom (as fans affectionately callbrit), and what kind of artistic surprises are in store.
Q: Tell us a little about howbrBlue Pom got its start.
A: A friend and I decided tobrsign up for an art fair and share a booth to sell our work under the name ofbrBlue Pomegranate Studio. Once we found ourselves making and selling our workbrfull time, we decided to share studio space. In 2001, Jason [Gerber’s husband]brand I decided to invest in a building that could house both working and sellingbrspace, hence the birth of Blue Pomegranate Gallery. In 2010, Jason quit hisbrfull-time job and became the business manager for the gallery. I began creatingbrrelationships with artists from all over the country and started carrying theirbrwork in the gallery.
Q: You’re based in Omaha,brNebraska. What brought you to Southlake?
A: We had been thinkingbrabout expanding to multiple locations. Southlake is a vibrant, growingbrcommunity, and we felt it was an optimal location for a gallery offering onlybrAmerican handmade fine art and fine crafts.
Q: Has anything surprised youbrabout the Southlake community?
A: The support of thebrcommunity is amazing. The mayor even came in and posted about our gallery onbrher Facebook page.
Q: Sondra, you’re the ownerbrand also an artist. Where do you draw inspiration for your art?
A: Nature. I also love thebrclean, contemporary lines of the mid-century modern styles.
Q: How would you describebryour style as an artist?
A: Contemporary with a touchbrof whimsy. I am an upbeat, positive person, and I think that is reflected in mybrwork. I recently began using more color in my work and I am excited to seebrwhere that new path will take me.
Q: Jason, you’re abrprofessional photographer. How do you and Sondra work together at Blue Pom?
A: I’ve had a camera in mybrhand since I can remember, instructed by my father to look for the interestingbrdetail. Sondra and I have found we are a great team for the gallery. She’s abrgreat designer, curator and the boss everyone wants to work harder for. I havebra background in small business; it’s in the blood. We love working on projectsbrtogether and even share an office with each other, sitting just a few feetbrapart. We are inseparable in life, love and business.
Q: Give us an idea of whatbrshoppers will find at the gallery.
A: We like to think of BluebrPomegranate as a great treasure hunt. As you explore the gallery, you see morebrand more every time you walk through. People often say it takes about threebrtrips around the gallery to get an idea of the full range of what we carry. Webrlove art that makes you smile, and even some that makes you laugh out loud.
Q: What if a shopper isbrlooking for a custom piece? Can that be arranged?
A: Many of our artists arebrhappy to do custom work. Just ask and we’ll see what we can do!
Q: How do you select artistsbrto feature?
A: We look for art that isbrunique, well executed on a professional level, and fits in with our colorful,bruplifting style.
Q: What’s something peoplebrmight not know about the gallery?
A: The name, BluebrPomegranate, comes from the Bible in Exodus 28:33, where God instructs thebrpriests to adorn their robes with the blue pomegranates, a color that is notbrtrue to nature. The Blue Pom is something that is unexpected, creative and abrsymbol of fruitfulness.