The ART GALLERY at 1122 N. Stone Ave. (N. E. corner of Stone and Speedway) (Also houses the Holy Joe Studio Gallery and the Stone Dragon Studio Gallery) has closed its doors for good. It is sad to see yet another Tucson business shut due to our poor economy.

As you know there is a long list of business closures in town and if the streetcar construction on University as well as on 4^th Ave. doesn’t complete soon I expect lots more to follow. Their businesses are off 40-60%.

The ART GALLERY owned by Steve Murray and his wife Maxine moved into this gallery location 5 years ago. The gallery offered some of the finest art in town and a very eclectic mix with something for everyone’s taste. Prior to the Stone Ave. location Steve and Maxine were involved with the downtown Arts Partnership Gallery for several years with a partner. When that structure was to be turned into expensive condos they moved and bought the building at their present location. Many of the artist’s they represented had been with them for over 10 years.

I personally don’t think there is gallery in Tucson that has helped artists and the community as much as Steve & Maxine. They held benefits at their gallery for organizations like Bicas, Arts organizations. Tucson Fire Foundation, and Children’s hospitals and others throughout the 5 years at this location.

Steve is an accomplished sculptor with collectors throughout the US and his wife is a retired schoolteacher. They have both been involved in the ownership of galleries in Elgin, AZ, Tubac and several in Tucson. They have had years of experience in the art market but with the existing economy just could not make a go of it and have decided to sell their 6000 sq. ft. facility and step back awhile.

In addition to Steve’s artistic ability, in 1974 he became a real estate consultant, real estate broker and appraiser. Steve still makes art because that is who he is but he and his wife have gotten tired because of poor art sales in our area and have chosen to call it quits for now. We wish them the best of luck.

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 26th, 2012 at 10:29 am and is filed under arts, Tucson Art. Tags for this post: ART GALLERY, Building for sale, Steve & Maxine Murray. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.