Art Masters demise does not bode well for Watkinsville
I am deeply saddened at the impending closing of Art Masters Gallery and Framing in downtown Watkinsville. They sponsored my radio show back when I was an AM radio talk show host, so I am not the least bit impartial about the demise of this business. The owner Geoff Seila is one of my best friends as well.
Almost every framed photo, newspaper or piece of art in my house was done by them either under Seila's tutelage or perhaps as far back as Peggy Holcomb's ownership. Peggy is of course the head of the Oconee County tourism department now. I have traded with Art Masters in at least four different locations and six different incarnations of space and scope of business.
I hope nothing but the best for Geoff and his wife Sherry and their son Drew.
Geoff recently thought about closing this business before, and he was talked out of it by former Watkinsville Mayor Jim Luken. He worked hard to come up from under the mountain of debt accumulated from a variety of loans and other business decisions. Geoff was also going to convert a back room of the store to a vinyl record store as he collects 78s, 45s and LPs.
He has hung a sign on the store advertising the closing sale and I hope every one in need of framing or perhaps some "outsider" folk art or pottery will stop by before the end of the month to pick up a little something before this cornerstone of Watkinsville commerce goes on to the scrapheap of history.
I am uncertain as to the exact reason for the closing of this longtime business in downtown Watkinsville. Was it the downturn in the economy? Was it cheaper competition? Was it that no longer people are driving up from Greene County and Lake Oconee to get art, posters and other items framed? Was it that Art Masters never used social media effectively? Probably little bits of all of this and then some contributed to its demise.
I always thought it was the perfect business for downtown Watkinsville working symbiotically with OCAF, the Chappelle Gallery and the bevy of artists in this area. It is a shame that we will no longer be able to get our art works framed there, but I am glad they have people to purchase most of the framing machinery lined up.
Almost every framed photo, newspaper or piece of art in my house was done by them either under Seila's tutelage or perhaps as far back as Peggy Holcomb's ownership. Peggy is of course the head of the Oconee County tourism department now. I have traded with Art Masters in at least four different locations and six different incarnations of space and scope of business.
I hope nothing but the best for Geoff and his wife Sherry and their son Drew.
Geoff recently thought about closing this business before, and he was talked out of it by former Watkinsville Mayor Jim Luken. He worked hard to come up from under the mountain of debt accumulated from a variety of loans and other business decisions. Geoff was also going to convert a back room of the store to a vinyl record store as he collects 78s, 45s and LPs.
He has hung a sign on the store advertising the closing sale and I hope every one in need of framing or perhaps some "outsider" folk art or pottery will stop by before the end of the month to pick up a little something before this cornerstone of Watkinsville commerce goes on to the scrapheap of history.
I am uncertain as to the exact reason for the closing of this longtime business in downtown Watkinsville. Was it the downturn in the economy? Was it cheaper competition? Was it that no longer people are driving up from Greene County and Lake Oconee to get art, posters and other items framed? Was it that Art Masters never used social media effectively? Probably little bits of all of this and then some contributed to its demise.
I always thought it was the perfect business for downtown Watkinsville working symbiotically with OCAF, the Chappelle Gallery and the bevy of artists in this area. It is a shame that we will no longer be able to get our art works framed there, but I am glad they have people to purchase most of the framing machinery lined up.
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