Douglas gallery relocates to larger Holland storefront, will showcase 75 artists' works

Deborah Johnson Wood

The new Thistle Gallery opening next week in downtown Holland is more than three times the size of its former location in Douglas, and owner Mary Glinski intends to fill the extra space with original works from some 75 artists – a third more than she's ever been able to show.

All of the works in the 2,500-square-foot gallery at 26 East 8th St. are original, handmade pieces from artists in the United States and Canada.

"We'll have a space in the back of the store, about 500 square feet, that will be a changing exhibit of fine art," Glinski says.

Called The Studio At Thistle Gallery, the space will spotlight two or three artists who work in one medium, such as watercolor, oil or metal sculpture, and will change about every 60 days.

"We also have hand-painted silk, photography, textiles, some felting," Glinski says. "We have more jewelry than anything else because so many artists make jewelry, and we have some really, really cool pottery. We have an artist from Minnesota, Kerry Brooks, who's the only artist I know that does glass and pottery mixed together; we've carried her work for three years."

Glinski is a glass fuser and sells her own dishes, jewelry and other pieces at the gallery.

"Douglas is a great town with great merchants, but it's very seasonal and it's very difficult to have a year-round business," Glinski says. "I had outgrown my space and didn't have anywhere to grow. I'm really looking forward to the move and my employees are looking forward to the change. It's going to be a new energy for us."

The Studio At Thistle Gallery opens March 5.

Source: Mary Glinski, Thistle Gallery; Mimi Fritz, Holland Principal Shopping District

Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected]. Have a development news tip for Rapid Growth? Contact us at [email protected].