Sad news has hit Sacramento’s art community as it learns of yet another gallery closure, Tangent Gallery. In addition to Tangent, several other prominent galleries have fallen victim to challenging times and faced closure, including 20th Street Art Gallery, Skinner Howard Contemporary Art, Solomon Dubnick, and MAIYA. These galleries have provided years of beauty to Sacramento’s art district and as they close their doors some may assume that this is a result of a decline in support of the arts, but the reality is quite to the contrary. These closures have been positively countered with creative arts partnership efforts and a new reign of galleries moving in, here to show art is alive and well in Sacramento.

Tangent Gallery began its run five years ago, establishing itself as a studio with one important purpose: to serve the Sacramento community with stunning art. They have certainly succeeded. But after producing over sixty monthly shows, Tangent will no longer keep their gallery open. This is not to say, however, that they will be ceasing their involvement in the art world. According to the Tangent creators they have great plans to “contribute to this art community in other ways beyond the walls of this little gallery.” And Tangent has no intention of leaving quietly. Before ending this chapter, this 2nd Saturday Tangent will be premiering one last show, entitled The End, comprised of artwork from their regularly contributing artists.

With the current plight of our economy the arts are taking a hit and sadly gallery closures such as these are all too common, still Sacramento proves their commitment to art with gallery expansions and exciting new developments. In challenging times, businesses are finding the need to be innovative and creative in their business models and marketing efforts—what better opportunity could you ask for from an artistic loving community? Many are finding that a brick-and-mortar store-front is not the only option to sell art and connect with buyers and are making moves to meet the needs of our changing economic climate.

One way current galleries are doing this is by forming creative alliances to further their efforts as a whole. An exciting recent development is the formation of The Triangle Arts District, which includes galleries such as Panama Pottery, Beatnik Studios, and Brickhouse Gallery in the Oak Park-Broadway-Franklin area. An even newer member has been added to the Triangle family with the official opening of Patris Studio and Gallery, originally housed in the S12 Studio.

These art galleries are not the only ones with exciting news. Elliott Fouts Gallery has moved from their East Sacramento home to a larger facility in Midtown, putting themselves in the center of it all, allowing for continued artistic success. La Raza Galeria Posada had a similar idea, deciding to leave their small retail space in Midtown for a 2,000 square foot building near Miller Park. And as far as budding new galleries, Alex Bult Gallery, Milk Gallery, Eighteen Zero Six Art Gallery, and Red Dot Gallery can add themselves to the list, demonstrating Sacramento’s growing passion for art and culture.

Galleries do so much more than provide artwork; they create community, provide a blank canvas for life and nature, a fresh perspective, and give artists a center for their work and themselves. And these Sacramento artists certainly make for a good cause for promotion. So while the doors of some galleries have closed, some very exciting ones have opened, and as long as people continue to walk through, these doors will remain open for years to come.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

The End can be seen at Tangent Gallery through August 4, 2012. The gallery is open Saturdays Noon-3pm, with a 2nd Sat reception 6pm-10pm.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

See more 2nd Saturday events on Sacramento365.com - the year-round source for Sacramento events.