Nestled in downtown Bellingham, Rebecca Meloy’s Meloy Gallery occupies a small space off Bay Street and E. Holly Street. Meloy describes her gallery as a “closet gallery” due to the fact that it is a small space packed full of art. She opened the gallery in 2022 and also managed Meloy & Company LLC from 1997 to 2004, where she focused on exhibiting work by local artists. Meloy Gallery is no different. In an interview with the gallerist, she noted that she often invites her friends to exhibit their work in her gallery. Meloy is also an art educator and artist, so her roster of artist friends is extensive. For January, she invited her good friend Joe Reno to exhibit his work alongside other artwork in his personal collection. In addition to Reno’s work, pieces by Jay Steensma, Patrick Burke, and Elizabeth Aurich are for sale at the gallery. In February, the gallery is welcoming Richard Longstreet, a local painter and printmaker, to exhibit his work. Since Meloy is friends with many of these artists, the exhibitions have a personal connection with the gallery and offer a more intimate view of an artist’s work. She also has posted many insightful photographs of artists working on her website and in the gallery. This insider perspective is a peek inside the mind of an artist and gives us an idea of the work required to create the objects on display.
The January exhibit, organized by Reno and Meloy, titled “Chronology of Abstract to Realism” includes paintings, drawings, and prints by the artists listed above. Those who are knowledgeable about art in the Northwest will recognize Jay Steensma’s work. Steensma was a key member of the broader “Northwest School” in Western Washington, like Joe Reno. The other artists in the exhibition, Patrick Burke and Elizabeth Aurich, are close friends of Joe Reno and have a long exhibition history in Washington State. The work included in the show is expressive, both through color and the evidence of the artist’s hand, and incredibly figurative. Reno included many portraits and paintings that reference his societal observations. In “The View of a Scientist,” insects buzz around the paintings with a fervor as they are surrounded by layers of colorful swirls. The painting is filled with Reno’s energy and his unique sense of color. In his “Self Portrait” from 1991, the artist utilizes color contrasts to create depth and perspective for the viewer. The artist’s face is filled out through blocks of varying colors; periwinkle blue, orange, yellow, and pink shape the contours of his face while brushes of blues and greens make up his sweater.
In February, visitors to Meloy Gallery have the opportunity to see work by Richard Longstreet, who seeks to tap into the various aspects of consciousness and unconsciousness through his artistic process. The work appears intuitive; geometric shapes and colors are layered onto one another to create a complex web of imagery. The content is largely determined by the viewer. Much like the Surrealists and Impressionists before him, Longstreet seems to be equally, if not more, interested in the process in which an artwork is created as by the final product. Making art is a process of discovery for him and seeking out the origins of emotion and thought through mark making is of key importance. Longstreet’s woodblock prints are exceptionally beautiful, and the use of layered colors and patterns is very impressive. The resulting image has an atmospheric quality that can be challenging to attain in a woodblock print. Many of the prints on Meloy Gallery’s website are around 18 x 14 inches and quite affordable.
Artists are often in attendance at their openings at Meloy Gallery during the beloved First Friday events from 6 to 9 p.m. The gallery has a robust exhibition schedule in 2025 and Meloy plans to present a new exhibition every 4 weeks. January and February are traditionally slow months for all retail businesses, and this is true for art galleries as well. So if you have plans to visit Bellingham, a trip to Meloy Gallery can easily be combined with visits to Fourth Corner Frames & Gallery in the same building, Geheim Gallery across Bay Street, and Allied Arts of Whatcom County on Cornwall Avenue. Whatcom Museum, where guests can find art and history exhibits, is also located in downtown Bellingham. Many upcoming exhibits are already listed on the gallery websites, so please look if you are planning a visit to downtown Bellingham in the near future.
Chloé Dye Sherpe
Chloé Dye Sherpe is an art professional and curator based in Washington State.
Chronology of Abstract to Realism: Joe Reno Collection is on view through January and Dream States: Richard Longstreet through February at Meloy Gallery, located at 301 West Holly in Bellingham, Washington. Hours are Thursday through Sunday from 12 to 6 p.m. First Friday Art Walks are from 6 to 9 p.m. For more information, visit www.meloygallery.com.
