Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1470865
Photo by Linda Washburn Roberts Photo by Lea Frye Photo by Lea Frye Street view of the gallery. Co-founder Sally Angove with her watercolor paintings. Watercolor class by Svitlana Prouty. 52 | SIGNATURE MONTANA Sally Angove, gallery co-founder and historian, recalls the gallery's first opening in February of 1997. "First known as the Upper Missouri Artists Gallery of Original Art, we were able to sublet a back room from the antique store, Days of Yore, where we could display and sell our artwork to the local community," says Angove. "In November of 1999, the antique store closed, so the gallery moved to a new space in the Atlas Building on the Walking Mall," Angove adds. e gallery remained a fixture in this location for many years until reaching a pivotal point in 2014. "With rent skyrocketing and partner numbers down, a change was in order," says Angove. On searching for a new space, she found the perfect spot at 433 North Last Chance Gulch and quickly shared the opportunity with the other artists/partners. ey jumped at the chance, moved to the new location, and hung their shingle under the new name of Mountain Sage Gallery. While the name and the location have changed, many things are still the same. According to artist and co-owner Linda Washburn Roberts, the premise of the joint venture remains intact. "It is a place where artists have joined together to create this business," says Roberts. "Our artists show pride of ownership by being a partner in this venture that is different from a traditional gallery. We pride ourselves on the quality of artwork in the gallery and our welcoming atmosphere," adds Roberts. As a part of the downtown Helena community, Mountain Sage Gallery is thankful to have the capacity to offer art classes and open its doors to other local artists for monthly art critiques.