Located at 300 N. Second St. in Rogers, Into+View Art Gallery and Studios was founded by artist Kinya Christian, who says she hopes the space will “bring into view under-represented artists of color, women and those of advanced age.” Christian’s background runs the gamut of artistic careers — she’s worked in a print shop, a sign shop, as a yearbook designer and in advertising and public relations.
“I opened [Into+View Art Gallery and Studios] because I felt like the art space I needed didn’t exist,” she says. “Last year started out hopeful — I had curated the exhibit ‘Reflections of The Black Experience,’ featuring the 1619 Project, with the prospects of expanding it with community programming. Although it was shut off from public view, I believe the conversations it started continued.
“The need to having something permanent like it in Northwest Arkansas together with my desire to have a space for me to flex my creativity led to Into+View. I want this to be a flexible gallery — one that offers space to work, a place to hold exhibitions that will engage, educate and enlighten people, like ‘Reflections,’ and that would feel like home to under-represented and emerging artists of color, especially women. I’m 45 years old, and not getting any younger, so working with older artists is also top of mind for me. Culinary and musical arts will also be a large part of what happens in my space. Music, art, wine, food are all passions of mine — I figured if I bring it all into view, people will come in and experience it.”
Artists in residence at the new gallery include Lisa Nance, a Springdale collage artist and oil painter, and Leona Hunter Wade, a Bentonville artist who works primarily with acrylics, oils and mixed media.
Currently, the gallery is open by appointment only, but Christian says she hopes it will have regular hours by May. Email her at [email protected].