Huntington Quarterly Autumn 2022

H un t i ng ton’ s relatively new Sloane Square Gallery at 611 14th Street West is unlike any other art gallery you’ve ever vis ited. No one shushes you when you enter; instead, one of the owners, usually designer Jimmy Hobbs, greets you warmly and offers you candy from the bowl near the front door. Fresh flowers grace the room. Display ped estals feature unique purses . Mannequins sport clothing designed to coordinate with the art. Vintage breakfronts hold glassware or vintage jewelry. Nearby, someone may be playing the gal lery’s grand piano. Cozy seating groups scattered throughout the room entice you to sit, study

ph i l o s ophy, wh i ch sparked the 13-year-old dream that came true with their grand opening on July 1, 2021. “Our inspi rat ion came f rom want ing our own platform to in spire other people,” said Sloane, a Huntington native who spent much of his life in Columbus, Ohio, before returning home. He started his career as a music com poser, but 15 years ago put that pursuit on hold to paint. “I think I was entertaining the idea of a gallery from the time I began to paint.” However, the fledg ling artist didn’t feel confident about sell ing his work until he met Hobbs.

Jamie Sloane’s work spans a wide variety of styles.

“He saw all my art work and thought I was a collector.When he learned I had painted all of them, he told me he could sell them,” Sloane recalled. Hobbs then introduced Sloane to the late Mark Bailey, who was known for discovering good art. Bailey soon introduced Sloane to art patron and collector Jack Bourdelais, who bought everything in Sloane’s collection, including his sketch books.

the magnificent paintings by the other owner, artist Jamie Sloane, and consider how they might fit into your home. Because Sloane’s bold and colorful work spans a wide variety of styles from realism to impressionism to modernism to pointillism, his paintings can enhance many home decors. The gallery’s business card carries the phrase, “Art as Lifestyle.” That perfectly sums up the owners’ joint

Cozy seating groups scattered throughout the room entice you to sit, study the magnificent paintings by artist Jamie Sloane and consider how the pieces might fit in your home.

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