Picture Show Gallery
Decks the Halls
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Now that the holidays are here and you’re ready to deck the halls, SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel found a good place to look for surf-related artworks and special gifts – the Picture Show Gallery in Seal Beach.
The gallery has been a part of the Seal Beach community for 32-years, providing a mix of original surf and beach-themed artworks, prints, gift and souvenir items, and custom framing services designed to appeal to locals and visitors alike.
Located at 231 Main Street, just a few steps from the Seal Beach post office, the Picture Show Gallery has always been a place where people stop by to talk and hang out, catching up with friends and discovering new artists.
Karen Adler, the owner, who started the gallery with her late husband Mike, is an artist herself. One of the things she likes best about the Picture Show Gallery is the opportunity it gives her to introduce the community to the artists she showcases.
Over the years the Picture Show Gallery has featured the works of surf artists Wade Koniakowsky, Sean Davey, Jay Alders, Jim Krogle, “Shag,” Tom Foltz, David Meyers, and many others.
Sunny admiring Jay Alders’ artworks
It has also generated a strong following for tiki artists, such as Doug Horne and Tom Bigtoe.
Along with tiki paintings and prints, the gallery has an extensive assortment of tiki mugs, making it a must visit for collectors or those looking for a unique gift.
Patti picking out a tiki mug
Gallery assistant Linda Kanawati pointed out some other gifts that might catch people’s eyes during the holidays. For instance, there are artistic odds and ends like bulldog- and monkey-shaped luggage tags and wallets, coin purses and cell phone covers with scenes painted on them.
“You never know what you’ll find,” said Linda, gesturing toward a group of dashboard “wigglers” – hula dancers, children and even chubby men.
Framed prints of Jim Krogle’s classic “woody” automobiles loaded with surfboards...
and Tom Foltz’s local beach scenes make nostalgic gifts and souvenirs.
There’s also an assortment of greeting cards, coasters, wrapping paper, and art mobiles.
Or you might want to take one of the carved wooden sea birds home with you to put in a window or on a bookshelf.
and Tom Foltz’s local beach scenes make nostalgic gifts and souvenirs.
There’s also an assortment of greeting cards, coasters, wrapping paper, and art mobiles.
Or you might want to take one of the carved wooden sea birds home with you to put in a window or on a bookshelf.
Overseeing the shop with Karen and Linda is a real bird – Poncho, a double-yellow-head Amazon Parrot estimated to be at least 50-years-old. A gift from Mike’s aunt many years ago, Poncho is a key member of the store and can be heard squawking his opinions from the framing area in the back of the shop.
When it comes to custom framing, Karen and Linda explained that this is a way to make a picture more personal and they want people to know that the shop’s prices are affordable.
“We’ll beat the price every time,” Karen emphasized. “We price to sell”
SurfWriter Girls Sunny and Patti thought it was great to see so many different surf artists’ works in the Picture Show Gallery. And, since many of the artists are local, you might run into them in the shop, especially during the holiday season.
Patti and Sunny next to Sean Davey’s Pier Pictures
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Great post! Sounds like a store I should check out next time I am over that way.
ReplyDeleteBarbara
Great Job....as usual. You did The Picture Show Gallery great justice; although going to the store in person is what makes my day!!!
ReplyDeleteThere are a lot of art galleries up and down the coast but the Picture Show is without pier (pun intended) when it comes to featuring local artists and the SoCal beach lifestyle. I love that place and visit it whenever I'm in Seal Beach.
ReplyDelete