1 Photo
It began with posters, whirligigs, beach bags and wooden folk art. A few frame samples were tucked in the back of the Mark Humphrey Gallery, in case anyone was interested. This was the humble beginning when Mark Humphrey and Larry Rundie launched their new business on May 3, 1980 on Main Street in Southampton.
The gallery was next to the Pelletreau Silver Shop then, diagonally across the street from its current 95 Main Street address. Mr. Humphrey said he knew he wanted the current location from the minute they opened. Two years later, he had his wish and the Mark Humphrey Gallery moved to its current home.
Thirty years later, there are no longer Chinese kites or folk art sold at the gallery. What visitors find today are limited edition prints by art masters. The collection includes works by Roy Lichtenstein, Brice Marden, Alex Katz, Robert Motherwell, Donald Sultan and others.
There are also plenty of abstract paintings by Mr. Humphrey, whose art is part of private and corporate collections. The gallery is part of the art fair scene, representing Mr. Humphrey and gallery selections at art fairs in Miami, Manhattan, Bridgehampton and others.
Art consulting has been a part of the mix for the last 20 years, Mr. Humphrey said. The biggest coup was selecting art for two full floors of a Manhattan high-rise for a corporate law firm.
The subtle heart of the Mark Humphrey Gallery can be found tucked discreetly behind a wall of paintings. There, a cloth-bound counter is surrounded by rows and rows of frame samples hanging on the wall, waiting for selection. It seems that residents of Southampton still need a frame shop they can count on.
To mark its 30th year in business, the gallery is holding a cocktails and hors d’oeuvres reception on Saturday, August 7, from 5 to 7 p.m. Admission is free. The owners have reached out to customers, clients and past employees to make the event a special one.
“There’s not a gallery out here that can say they’ve been in business for 30 years,” said Mr. Humphrey. “It’s an accomplishment.”
The Vered Gallery in East Hampton actually surpasses the Mark Humphrey Gallery in longevity, having sold art in the Hamptons for 38 years, according to its website. RVS Fine Art in Southampton has been operating since the 1970s, making that gallery another contender.
But both of those galleries have a different business model (selling fine art only), so his claim is valid, Mr. Humphrey said. Most galleries selling collectible fine art don’t offering framing services, he said.
And there is no debate on the fact that there’s been a whole lot of framing going on. What began as a side service became the backbone of the business.
For years, the two men framed on their dining room table to begin and end the day. Their striving allowed them to hire more staff to help. Over the decades, the framing operation has ensured the business could survive, and then flourish.
The gallery has put frames on posters of famous artworks, antique French posters, family photographs, diplomas, awards, children’s artwork, fine art and more. Employees are always artists themselves and bring a talent for understanding color and the relationship between the frame and the object being framed, Mr. Humphrey said.
In fact, working there has turned into a launching pad for careers in the arts. Mary McGuinn now works in a Chelsea Gallery. Mary Stubelek continues to make her artwork. Artist Elisca Jeansonne opened Gallery Merz in Sag Harbor and Sara Nightingale launched the Sara Nightingale Gallery, first in Water Mill and now on Shelter Island. Each initially opened their galleries with a framing business.
One secret of success is the division of labor: Mr. Humphrey is in charge of the art and Mr. Rundie concentrates on running the business. They consult weekly (at least) but don’t mix leadership. Another ingredient is having employees who love what they do, with trust flowing both ways. The result is leisure time for Mr. Rundie and time to paint for Mr. Humphrey.
Equally sweet is the trust and good will that flows from their customers. Making sure people are acknowledged and are happy with their framing or art purchases is still a crucial part of their business philosophy.
“It’s been fun,” Mr. Humphrey said. “There was a lot of hard work in the beginning. The best parts are being able to stay where we started—in Southampton—and advance the framing and the gallery to a real art. We have a sterling reputation and that’s very satisfying to me.”
The Mark Humphrey Gallery at 95 Main Street in Southampton celebrates its 30-year anniversary on Saturday, August 7, from 5 to 7 p.m. with a cocktail reception. For information, call 283-3113 or visit markhumphreygallery.com.
on Aug 3, 2010