Buster Levi Gallery to Close

Ends 16-year run in Cold Spring
The title of the Buster Levi Gallery exhibit that begins Feb. 7, Open Ending, hints at the end of an era in Cold Spring. When the show concludes six weeks later, the art space at 121 Main St. will close its doors after a 16-year run.
The last exhibit will include works by artists who have exhibited at Buster Levi in the past, reflecting a broad range of styles and mediums, including ceramics, drawing, mixed media, painting, photography, steel and textiles.
Martee Levi became the artistic director even before the gallery was established. In 2010, she helped launch the Marina Gallery at 153 Main St. before it moved in 2014.
"We were debating names for the new location," Levi recalled, noting that she was always accompanied by her dog, Buster. "He was sitting there looking out the window when someone said, 'Oh, look at that Buster Levi!'"
Before Marina, Levi ran a Beacon gallery at the back of Finders Keepers, a Main Street antique store.
The first inkling that she'd be an artist came when she was 3. "I remember sitting in my mother's sewing room, playing with crayons," Levi said. "I just knew that art was what I wanted to do." Her ambitions were fueled by a "fabulous" art teacher at her high school in Rochester.
Levi said she had wanted to start a local gallery for years. "There were too many artists in the area whose work was not being seen," she said.

Over the years, Buster Levi has had 12 to 14 artist members who share the rent and other expenses. When an artist sells a piece, the gallery receives a 10 percent commission.
"When I started this, I never thought about making money," she said. "The artists like to make money, and they've done well, but our main reason for being here is to do art."
Levi said the gallery is not closing for financial reasons. "It was just time to think about not having a storefront; we don't really need one," said one member, Grace Kennedy. "And there are a lot of artists who don't necessarily work with walls, and we don't have a lot of space here, none for any kind of sculpture."
It can also be a challenge to replace artists who move on, Kennedy said. "We've had some fantastic artists who just can't do it anymore," she said. "We try to replace them with local artists because you have to be local to be able to participate."
Kennedy said closing the gallery will free the group to do other things, such as pop-ups that incorporate music, which isn't possible in a building with second-floor apartments.
"The amazing part is the way the artists have grown," Levi said. "Every artist has grown by being a part of the gallery, and that's been wonderful to watch."
She said she has enjoyed interacting with what some might consider an unlikely demographic, the young hikers who visit Cold Spring. "Everybody hates the hikers," she said. "But they're just great because they're young, sophisticated and no matter what, they come in and are very, very interested.
"I'm going to miss all the people, but I think I'm going to have gatherings once in a while to talk about art; we'll still get together," Levi said. The gallery will also continue to maintain its website.
"When BLG started, Cold Spring had two other art galleries; both succumbed to rising rental prices," said Grey Zeien, a member whose exhibit, The Last Roundup, ends Sunday (Feb. 1). "BLG has been a haven and showplace for mid-career artists; its passing will leave a hole in the arts culture of the area."
The Buster Levi Gallery is open from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, or by appointment. See busterlevigallery.com.