McCRORY — Frank Swanson said he has enjoyed looking at and creating art for years, and now that he is retired, he wants to bring more art to Woodruff County. That is why he has opened up Art of America, the county’s first art gallery.
“I have always been interested in art,” he said. “I sold a few pieces while I was teaching school. After I retired [from the Farm Bureau] in 2012, I thought I’d open an art gallery in McCrory.”
Art of America is inside the historic Lawhon Building at 111 S. Edmonds Ave. Swanson said the building was home to a grocery store when he was growing up in the 1950s, and his nephew recently helped him set up shop in the building.
Swanson grew up on a farm, and when he left home for school, he learned more about art.
“After I got to college, I realized there was more to life than farming,” he said.
He held several jobs throughout his career, but in the past three years since he retired, he has focused a lot of energy on learning more about the art world.
“I’d go to art shows and talk to artists,” he said. “They all said they were better artists than marketers. I told them I’m a better marketer than artist.”
Art of America has more than 100 original works of art, including framed and unframed oil, watercolor and acrylic paintings, as well as unframed prints and drawings.
Currently, the gallery is hosting work by nine artists, but Swanson said he hopes to build it up to at least 15 artists. The art on display at this time comes from eight Arkansans and one Tennessean, including Betty O’Shields and Mary Jo Barnett of McCrory, Dee Dee Graves of Augusta, Kevin Bell of El Paso, Janelle Selvidge of Searcy, Mary Ann King of Romance, Rebecca Loftis of Heber Springs, Betty Mason of Wheatley and Marlene Gwathney of Germantown, Tennessee.
“We’re also hoping to branch out and bring in artists from other states,” he said.
Swanson has a lot of big plans for the gallery. At this time, 95 percent of the work hanging in the gallery is on a consignment agreement for 90 days. He eventually wants to sell directly to businesses and through interior designers, and he wants to open an online selling platform. As for the gallery itself, Swanson said he hopes it grows over time.
“I hope to have the largest art gallery between Little Rock and Memphis,” he said. “We want to be successful and financially solid.”
Art of America has been open a few weeks, and Swanson held a grand opening event Saturday. The gallery is open from noon to 6 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, or by appointment. In the future, Swanson said, he hopes to host high school art classes in the gallery. To contact Swanson, call (870) 731-4320 or email swansonsart@gmail.com.
Staff writer Angela Spencer can be reached at (501) 244-4307 or aspencer@arkansasonline.com.