Recently Jim Klein added a new space for the J Klein Gallery brand in Windsor, Colorado. We spoke with him to find out more about this exciting new development.
Q: Why did you look into opening a Colorado location?
A: On our farm I have a large studio where I paint when I am in Colorado, and now my family is moving off the farm so I was looking for a place where I could have a studio in downtown Windsor.
I was walking through Windsor and stopped in the right place at the right time, and within a month we were in a location in Old Town Windsor where I can paint and work on music. I am excited to share the space with my nephew, Jeff Berryman. Working with him has been very helpful and beneficial. We have two different styles which people appreciate when they come in; his work is shown on the east wall and mine is on the west wall.
I learned a lot from having the J Klein Art Factory in Scottsdale, Arizona. It’s ideal to have a location where I can sell paintings and work on the street while interacting with people that are walking by. It’s funny too–both the Scottsdale and the Windsor locations are on Main Street.
Q: How did you find the new space?
A: I was going up and down Main Street in Windsor and walked into a bicycle shop. I asked around about potentially opening up an art studio. A guy told me that he had a space across the street and within weeks I rented the space. It was all pure chance, or pure providence.
My grandfather settled here in 1917 and my mom’s side of the family were farmers in this area. My grandfather retired one block away from the new studio. I used to walk around Windsor as a child with my grandfather. My grandfather took me to a barbershop on the corner that’s been open since 1942, and I just got a haircut there last week.
Q: You recently had a concert in the new space, how did this come about and who performed?
A: Adam Żukiewicz gave me a call and said that Colorado Piano Trio had a concert coming up and wanted to do a rehearsal in the studio. Their performance was the first event here in the Windsor location, and they were pleased with the space and looking forward to doing it again. The city is very supportive of the arts and wants to see more of this kind of thing.
Q: What do you foresee for the future of this new location?
A: Right now the location is more of a working studio. My hope is that we will encourage more art galleries to come to Main Street in Windsor. I can foresee Windsor becoming an art center in Colorado. The city has been great in promoting the arts.
Also, it is critical that we have both my style and Jeff’s Surruralism (Surrealism + Rural subjects) featured here. He is family and will be able to carry this legacy on into the future.