In what is a most depressing article to write, RiverWinds Gallery, Beacon’s longest-running art gallery that featured 40 artists in several mediums, including painting, jewelry design, pottery, and more, will be over on August 31, 2020. RiverWinds is a fixture in Beacon, with their storefront window brightly lit with white lights every holiday season. The mural on the side of their building, which is a richly colored painting of a Native American looking over the Hudson River and the earth around it, is also a fixture.

Prior to the gallery taking the space, it had been a farm supply store, the office of Dentist Sam Kahn, Julia’s Beauty Parlor and other entities. The original artists who opened RiverWinds Gallery were Mary Ann Glass, a photographer; Kelly Newkirk, a fiber artist; Linda Hubbard, a photographer; Virginia Donovan, a painter; and Paola Bari, a porcelain painter. The 5 artists formed a partnership and opened the gallery. At the time, a woman named Mary Madden owned the 172 Main Street building and had hired Ron Sauer to renovate it. Ron Sauer and his wife Ronnie Sauer are credited with Beacon's original revival after Urban Renewal, a time period during which many properties were bulldozed and the Black community colonized in the Bank Square area were paid sometimes $27,000 to relocate elsewhere in Beacon (source: Katie’s neighbor).

In their founding words published on their website, RiverWinds believes this about artists: “The Winds represent constant change, the force that propels us, uplifts us, commands us to create art. They feed the artists souls with the need to connect, comfort and sometimes challenge. These winds blow warm and cool, hot and cold, from all directions, and sometimes not at all. Through these changes, the artists’ work evolves, and grows. The River and the Winds give the courage, inspiration and vision to open RiverWinds Gallery and to celebrate all the artisans have been called to create.

RiverWinds Gallery announced their closure on their Facebook page, encouraging everyone to shop one last time to help their artists:

After 17 years, RiverWinds Gallery at 172 Main Street, Beacon, NY is closing as of August 31, 2020. “It’s been a painful decision to close” says Karl LaLonde, one of the co-owners. “We will miss our artists, our customers both local people and folks from out of town. And we will miss being part of Beacon’s vibrant artistic community.”

There will be a Going Out of Business Sale from August 1 – 31, 2020 with discounts from 25%-50% on most pieces of artwork: paintings, photography, pottery, jewelry, glasswork and fiber art.

“The pandemic has done us in!” says Mary Ann Glass. “We are the longest-running gallery in Beacon. We opened in July 2003, shortly after Dia:Beacon opened its doors. At that time, the west end of Main Street was a bit grim! But we just had a feeling that it was on the edge of change. And we were right. RiverWinds has been an integral part of Beacon’s renaissance. For 17 years we have promoted and sold work by some of the finest Hudson Valley artists.”

“It’s been a long, wonderful ride” says Glass who is one of the original co-owners. “ Our goal when we opened was to provide a place for Hudson Valley artists to sell work to customers who would appreciate such unique and beautiful items. We feel we’ve done that.”

Voted twice Best Gallery in the Hudson Valley, RiverWinds Gallery is a multi-faceted art space featuring over 40 of the finest Hudson Valley artists; fine art including paintings, sculpture and photography, and contemporary crafts, including jewelry, glasswork, cards, and pottery. RiverWinds Gallery, LLC, is a member of the Beacon Arts Community Association (BeaconArts) www.beaconarts.org.

Most merchandise is 25%-50% discounted. The gallery is open every day. They are also selling their display cases - everything must go by the end of the month! So stop on in and see what's available. And help support their local artists one last time.

Open every day 12-4 until August 31, 2020

Location: RiverWinds Gallery, 172 Main Street, Beacon, NY 12508, 845-838-2880.