'Sleeping Giants' fill Makers Gallery

"Andrea Durfee's last six months of work, "Sleeping Giants," currently fills Makers Gallery & Studio. dozens of watercolor and ink drawings portray the female figure in diverse landscapes, visually representing "the dynamic control and chaos in our lives, and how we reconcile opposing emotions and inclinations," Durfee says.

Some of the reclining figures dominate the terrain, while others are more fully embedded in the sweeping vistas . Slumbering heavily or seemingly about to stir, the expressive figures are curled around harbors, sprawled across plain, and tucked into the faces of cliffs or rolling hills.

The works involve themes of freedom, containment, or surrender, Durfee says. She sees these figures as the personification on the tension between opposing emotions and inclinations, and representative of our connection to the environment, the past, and each other. Appropriately, some of the figures are more embedded into the landscape than others."  

Makers Gallery Valentines Day Exhibit

"Making art is often a solitary venture - you can imagine, the lone artist, holed up in their studio, or their attic, or over their kitchen table, Well, in honor of Valentine's Day, and in the spirit of partnership, one local gallerist has given a few artist couples the opportunity to collaborate on a diptych for a show at Makers Gallery and Studio, check it out. Aired 3/4/16." 

Partnerships: Makers Gallery & Studio

"Makers Gallery & Studio is located on the third floor of 34 Elton St. in Neighborhood of the Arts. You may have seen them in Art House Press (we recommend you checking them out if you haven't) or heard about their recent live painting event with local artist Nate Hodge (his artwork is currently up in their gallery!). They also recently opened a cafe in their space serving coffee from Fuego Coffee Roasters, tea and on Sunday's, delicious and unique homemade specialty donuts - made by the owners themselves! 

Founders Edward Zachary Graham, Alexander Gruttadaro and Anni Gruttadaro established the studio as a place for artists to share their work, and for people to gather. You can also rent their space for events but the gallery itself is open to the public 6 days a week."

Makers Gallery and Studio offers caffeine, great light, donuts

Though Makers Gallery and Studio opened in May 2015, people are still stumbling upon the venue. Co-owners Edward Zachary Graham, Alexander Gruttadaro, and Anni Gruttadaro have created a smart combination of coffee shop, art gallery, and workspace, where visitors are invited to hang out and work in a cozy, caffeinated environment. The space also hosts art classes.

Makers has the feel of a cool friend's loft apartment, with it's great light pouring in from tall windows, hardwood floors, exposed brick, ample plant life, and a tiny but efficient kitchenette. An eclectic mix of cozy furnishings includes couches, a bench made of log, church pews, stools, and concrete-and-wood tables the Alex made. The 1100-sqaure-foot space is also rented out for private events like bridal showers and office holiday parties.

Alex and Graham's original vision for the business was a combination restaurant, studio , and gallery. "Hopefully this is a jumping-off point for that," Alex says. "I've been saying it's my ten year plan, but I feel like I need to make it happen faster than that."