Why We Chose The Village of West Clay
Location. Location. Location.
This is always what’s driven into our heads as we labor over where we should establish a new business establishment.
In behn’s case, this approach was no different. Originally, our vision was to be in an out building on a large, more remote property, but as we became more acquainted with Carmel, as residents and business owners, we felt the need to be more in the mix and accessible to our clients. As the idea for behn evolved further, we considered downtown Indy and downtown Carmel first as this seems to be where people expect to see galleries. So, we visited many available locations, frequented events, and worked to embrace that environment, but as much as we enjoyed many aspects, we couldn’t help feel an absence. Of course there was a lot of foot traffic, but somehow, it didn’t all feel like the type of traffic that felt it would truly appreciate our ideas. So, we continued our search.
By this time, BELLOMO STUDIOS had been growing in the area for about 5 years and established an evolving and growing client base. As residents of Carmel, we also found ourselves engaging more and more in the Village of West Clay as one of our “places to go”. BELLOMO STUDIOS had a growing number of clients that lived in the Village, we had friends in the Village, we trained martial arts in the Village, we stopped for a drink or dinner in the Village, we rode our bikes and went to music concerts in the Village…see a trend here? We realized that we were already becoming part of this community.
As you get to know Adrienne and I, you’ll know, we are community people. We love our family and friends. We enjoy bike rides. We enjoy the occasional night on the town, but we’re quieter and simpler at heart and appreciate more intimate experiences.
As we traveled Ireland with Jim and Susan, our behn GALLERY partners, we found ourselves gravitating towards places that were built around a community of people. Places where you could relax and enjoy each other’s company. Have a drink. Talk about big ideas. Enjoy music and art. Learn. Relax. Grow.
Personal. Welcoming. Inviting. Engaging. Nurturing. Inspiring.
This is what we wanted our clients to feel and experience.
One of the biggest reasons we decided to take on partners in this gallery was because I found Jim Hamel, who shared a common sentiment about art galleries as we knew them. Our shared sentiment was that art galleries as we experienced them felt uninviting, pretentious, “above the public”, out of reach, sterile. You may know that feeling.
We knew we did not want that.
It was important to have a place where we could evolve as artists. Where clients could come on that journey with us and be part of an active artist’s space. Engage with artwork simply as an observer or collector, but also as a learner, a listener, a feeler, a dreamer. A place you can learn about art on all levels, watch art being created in front of your eyes, purchase a statement piece to create an experience in your freshly remodeled den, be around art while listening to some live music, be part of a charity event, or maybe even just stop in to say hi and have a quick cup.
It became more and more evident that we did not need, or even want, a place in a downtown setting with just a lot of activity. We needed a place for engaged activity Where there were relationships to be built. We didn’t just want clients, but friends, students, peers, colleagues, and family. It was with this sentiment in our hearts that we decided to join the Village of West Clay.
With BELLOMO STUDIOS as a photographic studio for portraiture, portfolio building, business needs, and custom fine art to service the communities needs.
With behn GALLERY as a high value art center that offers personal, impactful art works and experiences.
We needed a place to explore, evolve, and share as artists while helping others see a new perspectives in their world, in themselves and in their neighborhood.
We need community. It’s who we are.
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