‘The Gallery’ a Palmer destination since 1985

PALMER — These days, not much lasts for 30 years, but that’s how long Jo Ann Franks and Bev Hayes have been working together.

It was March 1985 when Jo Ann Franks was with her friend Barbara Brunnhoelzl and they needed something to do. Franks said they were bored and decided to open “The Gallery.” She said she had some art and art schooling and Brunnhoelzl had some money.

Bev Hayes was a commercial fisherman and showed up a little later and has been working with Franks ever since.

Franks and Brunnhoelzl were partners only for a year but their creation, “The Gallery,” is still at the KeyBank Plaza where they were the first tenants. Landlords and building owners have changed but Franks’ business remains the same.

There have been some differences over time, for 10 years there were two The Gallery businesses Franks owned, one in Palmer and another in Meta Rose Square. She closed that store in 1996 to concentrate on the Palmer store.

Many local artists can attribute a boost in their careers to Franks. Shane Lamb had his first show at The Gallery. Douglas Girard, Robert Clayton, Bob Bates, Bev Doolittle, even Fred Machetanz and Jon Van Zyle have worked with Franks.

Franks and Hayes talk of the first showing for Penni Ann Cross with smiles and laughter.

“It was snowing like crazy and the line of people seemed to go around the block,” Franks said. “Penni came in and threw her big fur coat down and went right to work.”

The Gallery was also the Alaska home to international talent like Carl Brenders and Robert Bateman and national artists like Paul Calle. The list of artists goes on and on, contributing to making this little shop in Palmer a destination.

And 30 years later it still is a destination.

The Gallery does much more than sell art. It has maintained and offered a variety of art services. It is known for the quality of its custom picture framing throughout Alaska, so much so that folks often will buy prints and art at a store — even those that offer framing, and bring the work to The Gallery for the expertise and products Franks offers.

Like most small businesses, the business is the owner, and survives and flourishes because of the owner and the dedication and work put into the place.

Certainly, The Gallery is Jo Ann Franks and her spirit. People come from around the world to her shop and even if they leave emptyhanded, they never leave disappointed. Whether it’s a funny story about an artist, the provenance or history of a work, an art print or original oil or just a warm smile Jo Ann Franks and The Gallery have something special for you.

The Gallery is at 1150 S Colony Way, in Palmer. Call 745-1420.