Business Profile: Gallery 66 NY, Cold Spring
Since Barbara Galazzo, a glass artist, moved to Cold Spring 16 years ago, she’s been actively involved in the art community. She launched Cold Spring Arts and has been part of Art Along the Hudson, both aimed at giving the area’s artists the opportunity for their work to be seen. She found, however, much of the local talent didn’t consistently have a place to display their art.
“I know quite a lot of artists because of the other projects I have done,” said Galazzo. “I had done a couple projects in town, and the other artists wanted me to open up a gallery.”
Last October, Galazzo opened Gallery 66 NY on Main Street, right in the heart of the village and with a beautiful view of the Hudson River. The gallery has given the art scene in Cold Spring, a tourist attraction for its unique shops and breathtaking views, a boost, according to local artists.
“People are starting to think of Cold Spring as an art destination. It’s a win-win situation for the artists, for the community, for all the other commercial businesses in the town,” said Jane Soodalter, a Cold Spring resident. “It used to be you come here just for antiques. Now there’s just more for people to see, more for people to consider buying.”
The gallery, which was given a “Cultural Achievement Award” by the Cold Spring Chamber of Commerce, features several exhibitions, with work on display for varying lengths of time, and also contains an outdoor art garden. Galazzo mostly commits the space to artists from the area looking to be discovered, but some on display are well-established or not local.
“A lot of these artists are internationally known. Some are in museums,” she said. “The rest of them are either national or emerging artists.”
It’s not Galazzo’s first time owning an art gallery. For 16 years, until 2006, she ran Brooklyn Artisans Gallery. Since then she’s focused on her glasswork, some of which is now displayed in Gallery 66.
” The gallery business is a rather complex business and I have to admire the people who are directing it,” said Don Alter, a painter from Newburgh who has some of his work on display at the gallery. “Surely in Cold Spring it’s going to attract visitors.”
The gallery currently has on display a wide range of art, from clay wall pieces to steelwork to photographs of rural China. Several new exhibitions will be opening on Friday, including a never-before-seen set of photos by the late Leonard Freed entitled “Man and Beast.” An artists’ reception will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday.
Galazzo said she hopes to add an online gallery to the business’ website and work with interior designers and architects. Her main goal, though, is simply to run a successful gallery and to continue to give local up-and-comers a chance to get their work seen and earn a living.
“I would say that the town is pretty happy that we’re here,” she said.
Gallery 66 NY is located at 66 Main Street in Cold Spring. Its website is gallery66ny.com. It is open Thursday to Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. Call 845-809-5838 for more information.
