River Gallery

About as eclectic as it gets when it comes to small town art galleries.
But make no mistake, this is no ‘small town’ art.
This is no haberdashery mishmash of musty dusty knickknack paddywhack gewgaw tchotchkes populating 99.9% of the suburban/​rural downtown ‘renewals’ you see out there… yea, those ubiquitous shops adorned with ‘Antique’ and ‘Gallery’ on their signage – in name only!
Painting. Sculpture. Ceramics. Mixed Media. River Gallery’s got it all. Some pieces with a distinct ode to the proud regional past and others with a palpable modernist bent.
All lovingly curated by two of its top resident (and, appropriately, bearded) artists… and OWNERS – Dale and Richard Bunse (pronounced Bun-​See).
Where else can you go and have earnest, folksy and intellectual chats with the artists and curators themselves about art, history, and art history anywhere within a moonshot of big-​city art world elite? And MINUS the snobbery?
TIP: Before you know it you’ll be hanging with your hosts in a friendly manner and touring the backroom studio, chock full ‘o’ works in progress and hidden repositories from many artists you’ve probably never heard of, but just might fall in love with THE ONE (piece) you never knew you were looking for!
TIP #2: Dale does some amazing pottery and I picked up one of his signature modernist vases for quite a reasonable sum. Amazing swirl of deep violet-​burgundy, white mist, grey, and black that graces my most precious console/​credenza.
Dang, it’s been almost two months already since my last visit. Before then, it was around two years. I can’t wait to invade Polk County again and take a stroll waterfrontside on South Main in Downtown Independence —Down By the RIVER (GALLERY)…
If you are so fortunate as to live modestly close by, pop on in and say hi to the Bunse Boys for me! maybe you’ll uncover hidden treasure to adorn your walls, shelves, counter spaces, et cetera et cetera…
DONE.