Story IN Artist Gallery

A co-op style gallery with six artists at present. Although our studios are separate from one another the Gallery allows us a place to come together as one to display and sell our works directly to the public. 

We are located in the Blue House right next to the Story Inn and are open weekends from April through November. Our hours are: Fridays 4-8pm, Saturdays 11am until 8pm, and Sundays from 11am until 4pm. On busy days we might open a little earlier and/or close a little later. Don't you just love country living?

When you stop in the Gallery you are almost always guaranteed the opportunity to meet at least one of the Artists. We all enjoy interacting with our customers and occasionally you may find us working on a piece of art or craft at the Gallery. From time to time, we open our individual studios to the public and some of us even teach at our studios. If you are interested in learning any of the arts, please ask.

At present we are comprised of several painters, jewlery designers, and one wood worker and, as you will see, many of us have more than one talent. We are all dedicated to our crafts and consider it a privelege to be able to interact face to face with our customers. Most retail art venues do not allow this on an ongoing basis, so we look forward to seeing you when you stop in. Please take a minute to introduce yourself and become aquainted.

Hollis (Holly) Melillo has been painting since she was in elementary school. She has explored many mediums over the years, but currently is painting in oils. Her primary focus is landscapes and seascapes but also paints portraits and still lifes. She says she paints "what inspires me, which can be almost anything". She likes to use vibrant colors that reflect her view of the world. Holly also makes prints and notecards from select paintings. During college Holly had the opportunity to study various methods of jewelry design. She immediately fell in love, and now splits her time between her love of jewelry and her passion for painting. In 2001 Holly learned lampworking which is the art of forming glass beads with a torch.  This simple definition does not come close to describing the intricacies of the process needed to create such stunning little jewels using various colors of glass and incorporating precious metals. When you stop into the Gallery, if you're interested, please ask because Holly would be thrilled to elaborate.

Eleanor Haltom is newest painter to join the Gallery. Eleanor is Holly's mother and they live and work together locally. Previously Eleanor lived in Corpus Christi, Texas. Eleanor, at 88 years old, has only recently started to paint seriously, but already has made great strides in mastering her medium. She has had experience in the past in drawing and pastel painting but is now painting in oils and acrylics. Her preferred subjects are birds, animals and flowers, although she also loves landscapes. Eleanor also paints canvas bags and may, in the future, contribute other handbags to the Gallery. When she is working you can recognize her by her spectacular silver-white hair and ready smile. Many times her granddaughter, Deneb Lea, works in her place. Holly's daughter (Deneb) also paints and creates beaded designs. We are hoping we can persuade Deneb to contribute her own work to the Gallery in the near future.

Peggy and Joe Henderson are our "couple". They live and work in a place of their own creation; from their house, to their beautiful garden, to their creative studio spaces. Peggy is a jewelry designer and also paints the most beautiful and intricate gourds. Her work is inspired by our rustic surroundings and our Native American roots. Occasionally she contributes a wonderful basket or two to the Gallery, for which she has won numerous awards in the past. Her husband, Joe, is a woodworker supreme. The Gallery features his beautiful and unique clocks among other things. They are as comfortable on a desk or shelf as on a wall or mantle.

Carrie Foley and Janet Cullen, the last but not least of our Artists, contribute our most sophisticated jewelry as well as unique copper "scarf or coat" pins and beautifully colored stone slab and fossil hangings. They use copper, gold and sterling silver to frame and hang gorgeous, unique stones and rare fossils so that they can be worn and admired. They spent many years operating a successful retail jewelry business in downtown Nashville, IN, but after many years, craved the time to be creative on a more relaxed timetable.  This is what drew them to join our Gallery in 2008. Lucky us.

We hope when you visit Story, that you take a few moments to stop by the Gallery and say, "Hello".