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Gallery headed for warmer climate

JENNIFER HARPER
Summit Daily/Kristin Skvorc Tennessee resident Martha Koger, right, makes a deal on a piece of jewelry with the owner of First Peoples Gallery, Vickie Kneemeyer, Friday in Firsco. Kneemeyer is closing the doors to her gallery Sept. 27.
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FRISCO – After eight years in Summit County, First Peoples Gallery in Frisco will close its doors Tuesday.Owner Vickie Kneemeyer is moving the gallery to Santa Fe, N.M. And with only a few shopping days left at First Peoples, some local arts patrons were waiting to get into the gallery when Kneemeyer arrived at 8:30 a.m. Friday. First Peoples Gallery was in New York for 15 years prior to moving to Summit County.

“Basically, we’re moving not because the gallery isn’t doing well here, but because of the long winters,” she said.Although the display cases were moved out Friday, that didn’t stop Kneemeyer from giving her customers the same level of friendly service they’ve come to expect. Martha Koger of Nashville, Tenn., who also has a home in Silverthorne, stopped by to purchase a red coral necklace. Kneemeyer offered to have a bracelet made for her to match the necklace once she gets to Santa Fe and have it shipped to Koger after the move.”I’m going to be even closer to the source now,” she said.

All of the gallery’s beadwork is made in New Mexico. First People’s Gallery also carries paintings and sculptures of landscapes, abstract work and Western images.Two of the artists featured in Kneemeyer’s Frisco gallery – Sarah Lewis and Kay Nagel – will now be represented by Columbine Gallery in Frisco. Kneemeyer will continue to represent the two artists at First Peoples Gallery in New Mexico.Bill Bickerton, owner of Columbine Gallery, said his gallery has already started carrying both artists’ work.



“Vickie and First Peoples were a real asset to the county, and we’ll miss her. But we’re excited to carry on some high-quality, local artists,” he said.Kneemeyer said she is establishing a sister relationship with Columbine Gallery to continue supporting Summit County artists.Jennifer Harper can be contacted at (970) 668-3998, ext. 248, or at jharper@summitdaily.com.


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