Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/748197
New Master s Galler y Showcases Fine Ar t in Reopened Space B Y B R E T T W I L B U R L ast year, New Masters Gallery owner Bill Hill got a knock on the door nobody wants to receive. "It was my daughter's friend, telling me that the gallery was on fire," he recalls. His daughter, Melissa, lived in one of the apar tments above the Dolores Street fine ar t space in downtown Carmel, which Hill star ted with his late wife Jennifer in 1974. Luckily, no one was injured, and friends, neighbors, strangers and firefighters grabbed ar t off the walls and managed to save all but 80 of the 1,900 paintings. "People were wonderful," Hill says. "The com- munity was so supportive. Neighboring galleries let us store art until we could get a storage unit, and we were able to get a temporary location while this one was being restored." Several months ago, the galler y reopened with a completely restored and remodeled space, and now the fine ar t from an eclectic group of museum quality ar tists is back on the walls. Besides painting, the galler y show- cases sculpture and an unusual technique known as marquetr y, where the ar tist places individually cut pieces of wood by hand to create a scene. Long known for his charitable works in the community, this time it was Hill's turn to be on the receiving end. "I am so grateful," he says. New Masters Gallery is located on Dolores btwn. Ocean & 7th, Carmel. 831/625-1511 or www.newmastersgallery.com. SHORTCUTS ART Owner Bill Hill of New Masters Gallery stands in the remodeled space that last year was struck by a fire. Much of the art was saved. 56 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • H O L I D A Y 2 0 1 6 Photo: Kelli Uldall