CHEERS to the year that was and the New Year ahead!
We've compiled our favorite moments and projects from our 10th year in business.

We want to thank all of you! You made our year so so so special. 💛 Extra thanks to all of our artists who produced outstanding work in the midst of this ongoing pandemic.

We couldn’t cram more than 100 photos in this, but there is so much more we wish we could include. Between all the art consulting in offices and homes, time-intensive framing projects, long installation days, shipping, more shipping, design work, behind the scenes projects and so much more- we are immensely grateful for the hustle and bustle in our gallery.

Thank you for supporting the art, artists and this small business.

-The Gilded Girls
Suzy, Lauren & Linda

It's been great to have all of you visit us, diligently make appointments for projects, and be fantastic about wearing a mask when you were here. We sincerely thank you.

We're all vaccinated now, but we're going to continue to clean high touch surfaces and masking when meeting for our services.

• Drop in to see our exhibitions during regular gallery hours. We're keeping Private Viewing appointments too- just get in touch.
  
• We would love it if you still make appointments for our services. You get the best service possible if we know you're on your way!
  
• We are still encouraging mask wearing for our visitors who are unvaccinated or immunocompromised.

Gilded Pear Gallery will be closed until Friday, November 27th, due to staff testing positive for COVID-19.

The staff was exposed to the virus at some point during the week of November 1-7; if you were in the gallery or in contact with us during that week, we recommend that you get tested. We will remain in quarantine until staff fully recovers, per CDC guidance, and it is safe to thoroughly clean and reopen the gallery again. We sincerely apologize for any harm we may have caused as this pandemic spreads throughout our community. When we return from quarantine, our continual efforts to keep our visitors safe by requiring masks, daily gallery cleaning, and keeping appropriate distance from guests will remain in effect- with utmost diligence.

Aftermath & update: the gallery is ok! We survived the Derecho that hit Cedar Rapids on Monday, August 10th. Our building did not take heavy damage and we are so incredibly fortunate. A billboard was swept into the park next door and bricks from the adjacent building (Phong Lan) tumbled. Our hearts go out to our business neighbors who sustained heavy damage and broken windows.

No art was damaged at the gallery. We were without power for 5 days and no phones or internet for 12 days. A sincere thanks to ALL of you for your patience. We’re still catching up on appointments and deadlines with clients and artists. We’re truly grateful for your understanding. We are touched that so many of you checked in on us during this disastrous time. We’re lucky to be a part of this community, here, with you all.

Below are photos and video (to be added) of the aftermath that we took. Also listed are community resources to help recovery efforts as well as news coverage.

We are heartbroken to have been notified that our longtime artist and friend Steve has passed. Our deepest sympathies go out to his family and his wife Jane. We hope that they are surrounded with love in this time.
We will miss him dearly.

Click HERE for Steve's obit.

Read more below about Steve.

Click the button below to read the article about John Beckelman's solo exhibition Stillness and Occurrence during the Covid-19 pandemic.

RE: Opening. To answer the burning question, YES we’re open- we are here (the lights are on and we’ve been working hard!). We’ve made the decision to continue operating BY APPOINTMENT ONLY until threat to health becomes less of a concern.  What does that mean? We ask that you call or email ahead (24 hours preferably, but will accommodate “hey, can I bring something in for framing in an hour?”). We also have a form on our website that you can use to book, if you’re feeling bashful. We don’t bite! (we can’t-we're masked!). If you are new to visiting the gallery, you don’t have to intend to purchase something to make an appointment. Feel free to contact us to see the current exhibit- the shows will go on! We cherish our clients, patrons and partners. All we really want is for everyone to be safe and healthy, so we ask that you arrive to your appointment masked. There are lengthy details on our homepage, contact page, and provided below in "read more"- about what we are doing to keep our space safe for your visit, this update is long enough, and we know you all are reading so many of these! Visit the rest of the website for your art-related needs/desires.

We’re operating with as much deftness in accommodating change and adjusting for the new landscape ahead. We all need respite right now. May art intrigue the mind and provide comfort in this challenging time. We miss you.

The Gazette stopped in while gallery owner Suzy McGrane-Hop was giving a lecture on the nature of art as business to a private group. Click the button below to read the article.

Most recently, we sat down with Dennis Green from KCCK for an artist interview with Mary Zeran to give a preview to listeners about her upcoming Artist Talk: January 11th, 5:30-7pm. Her solo show A Rainbow Colored Dream! is currently on view and will be up until January 19th. 

To watch the recorded session of 'Really Flat Sculptures', CLICK HERE. 

Back in late October, we were surprised to find a news crew outside the gallery one busy Monday. Suzy had previously been approached to approximate a value of some artwork by a French artist from the late 18th Century, found at a thrift store. Turns out, they had some value- who new(s)!

To watch the clip, CLICK HERE