Just weeks into opening Shorelines Gallery, 411 Market St., a space dedicated to aquatic and movable art, owners Steve and Tomi Mueller say the change of pace has been quite a departure from their usual vocations.
Located in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter, Shorelines Gallery is a diverse mix of artistic mediums, colors and textures.
Each vibrant piece presents the visitor’s eye with an island of interesting detail.
Adding to the aquatic theme, the gallery also houses a 125-gallon saltwater fish tank, which a spiked puffer fish and various other colorful aquatic vertebrates call home.
A mix of artists from across the United States have contributed to the collection of handmade jewelry, glass art, lithographs, metal sculpture, bronzes and pottery housed in the gallery, according to Steve.
“I think the thing you see in this gallery that you don’t see anywhere else is we have artists from 40 different states,” he said. “It’s always a pleasant surprise to me that we have artists from such a diverse geographic location.”
Steve also feels that the space itself offers a unique feel.
“The one thing about Shorelines is, it’s hard to describe the presentation of the art,” he explained. “It’s just incredible. My wife Tomi and I had no idea how beautiful it would turn out.”
As for how he and Tomi decided to open a licensed Shorelines Gallery branch here in San Diego, he said it stemmed from a road trip they took to visit the original Shorelines Galleries in Eureka, Calif. a little more than a year ago.
“We both agreed that if we ever [found] a good location then we would do it,” he said.
Steve also mentioned that the timing couldn’t have been better, as he recently moved from working full time in the renewable energy field to focusing more on his passion “” art.
At first the switch seemed like an unlikely leap, he said, but later explained that the decision to open the gallery, “felt comfortable.”
Point Loma locals since 1997, the Muellers may be new to the art gallery world, but they aren’t new to the community.
Steve is treasurer of the Downtown Partnership and a member of both the Rotary Club 33 and the San Diego Maritime.
Tomi is a former nurse and also works as a Realtor.
Despite their vocational experiences in real estate and the renewable energy business, art is nothing new.
Steve grew up around a lot of art, as both his parents were artists. So while it wasn’t such a huge leap for him, his wife was pleasantly surprised by the idea.
“The last thing on her mind was to open an art gallery,” he laughed. “I slowly talked to her.”
As for the concept of the gallery, Steve explained that he wanted the gallery to help represent artists and their work, so they can concentrate on their art.
“I think the one thing I’m getting to love about this gallery is getting to know the artists,” Steve said. “We believe that artists should be paid for what they did, so that we can be committed to them the way they’re committed to us. It’s a two-way street.”
In addition, he expressed that the gallery serves as a launching point for introducing people to the idea of owning original art.
“Most people can afford art, they just don’t know how to find it,” he said.
“I think what we strive [for] here is to get original art into people’s homes so it can change the way the space feels.”
As for how they’re both adjusting to life in the retail art world, Steve said it’s been an adventure.
He joked that after putting in tons of hours during the opening weeks, his wife forced him, an avid yachtsman, to go “make sure their boat was still floating.”
As for the future, Steve said he hopes to continue to bring great artists and their work into the shop.
“Every month we’ll have featured artists here,” he said.
Steve also encourages people to stay tuned, as they’ll supply more information on their featured artist through their mailing list.
“Come meet the artist, spend some time, learn how they work,” he said.
He also plans to take over the space next door in order to open an exclusive Stix gallery sometime at the end of October.
“Stix is about fun,” Steve explained. “It’s about saying in colors and pictures what we think every day in words.”
For more information on Shorelines Gallery, visit www.shorelinesgallerysandiego.com.