Every day, during my searching for interesting stories and creative brains, I usually stop by on modest websites which impress me with the small details. And again I have very-very interesting story, about Umber studios. I talked to lovely Jessica who told me more about their creative space.

She decided to open a commission free gallery four years ago, after many years of showing at galleries and truely disliking the strange effect it seemed to have on artists, including herself. It is her opinion (and opinion only) that art’s main purpose is to be viewed, seen, money is secondary.

Most galleries take too much commission and strip the artist of any of their love and happiness, art for art’s sake.

Jessica understands that a gallery is a business, but it was more important for her to create a gallery that restored the heart back into the artist, and into art. She is a drawer/polaroid transferer/painter/scribbler and her studiomates are all film photographers and shoot with hasselblads. Wow.

So far they have had about 37 shows in the past three years. Umber studios shows every kind of art and each artist is his own curator. Very important is that the artist has complete freedom, she said. This is rare in galleries, usually there is a curator deciding what will show and what will not. Umber studios have had some truely amazing shows.

It’s been my experience that the artist wants and amazing show just as much as I do, in fact, he or she wants it even more than me, and I’ve seen so many artists pour their hearts into their opening at umber.

About the selection Jessica told me she choose artists based on two things: she must like you, and she must like your art. It’s entirely subjective, but art is.

I want to show artists who share the same love I have for art. As art being expression, not art being a money maker.

If they sell pieces that’s icing on the cake. Jessica likes to show a good mix of brand new artists, established artists, and national/international group shows. Their future plans are to continue as is and keep providing a free space for artists to express themselves and experiment with new ideas.

Beside the studiomates Janell and Phil, Jessica has a dog Gracie who is a permanent fixture at the studio. If you are traveling or live near Minneapolis feel free to drop by and say hello, do not forget to bring milkbones for Gracie.

Jessica, thank you for sharing your lovely story with my readers, I believe they are already waiting for the next. I’d like to cooperate with you and be a friend, so welcome to DwA’s Friends with creative brains.