ST. GEORGE — What began as a custom frame shop has expanded to include a contemporary art gallery, featuring local artists’ work for the community to both enjoy and purchase. An official grand opening and artist reception took place Saturday.
Erin and David Martin, owners of Sunset Framer and Art Gallery, told St. George News that the custom framing shop first opened in 1995 and has been in business for over 27 years.
While visiting Southern Utah for their nephew’s graduation, David Martin said they both fell in love with the area. As they settled into St. George, they looked at businesses for sale and came across Sunset Framer, which they purchased five years ago. He said he always loved working with his hands and fell in love with both the shop and the customers.
“We practice conservation framing and try to do everything by the book,” he said. “We do custom framework and we’ll frame just about anything, even mirrors. We once framed a can of sardines.”
As an inside joke with a client and one of her friends, he said they passed the can of sardines back and forth over the years through the mail, adding that they wanted it memorialized.
With a wave of California residents moving to Southern Utah, he said they saw an influx of contemporary art come with it. When they realized there wasn’t a contemporary-only art gallery in St. George, they decided to create one of their own.
Erin Martin said she’s always loved art and has been a collector for over 20 years. She would even plan vacations around art gallery opportunities, such as Carmel by the Sea, which was once home to roughly 105 art galleries.
With the new gallery featuring artists’ work, she said she loves the beautiful view from the framing counter and has found true happiness at the shop, where she helps people design custom frameworks while being surrounded by some of her favorite artists.
Artists currently featured at Sunset Framers’ Art Gallery include John Mangles, Mel Scott, Jeff Ham, Mary Manning and more.
John Mangles
Artist John Mangles told St. George News he is a member of the Dixie Watercolor Society and the Southern Utah Art Guild. He said in the 70s, he created stained glass art as a hobby but didn’t start his career as a painter until after his retirement.
Mangles and his wife bought a second home in St. George in 2003 and make it their permanent residence in 2007. After the move, Mangles said he saw an ad in the paper for a watercolor class called “Painting in the Park,” which was offered by a local artist. He said he started painting in that class along with taking formal art classes through adult education at Dixie State.
Having had a great relationship with the prior owner of Sunset gallery, Mangles said the same relationship continues with the new owners, where he has framed many of his art pieces. He said that the Martins saw some of his art at some co-op galleries in town and invited him to be a part of the new gallery they were opening.
“There are so many people coming in, so many tourists, but we have to get them to come to the galleries and that is the challenge,” Mangles said.
Mangles, who creates art in his home garage, has 16 pieces of work currently on display at the Sunset Framer and Art Gallery. His art can also be seen at the Arrowhead Gallery, Southern Utah Art Guilds’ Redcliff Gallery and Gallery 35 on Main Street for watercolor.
“If I can get somebody to enjoy my work, that’s fine. If they buy it, that’s even better. But that’s not what I’m doing this for. I’m not doing it to make a profit. I do it for my own personal enjoyment,” Mangels said.
To learn more about John Mangles and his art, click here.
Mel Scott
Artist Mel Scott said she has known she was an artist since she was a little girl. Originally from Indiana, Scott moved to Southern Utah in 1970.
She’s been participating in the art community in St. George since 1975 as an artist, teacher and advocate. During this time, she said she and four other members of the community originally gathered to create the Southern Utah Art Guild. She’s also the founder of the Watercolor Society, now known as the Dixie Watercolor Society, which was renamed while she and her husband served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Scott said she took her first oil painting art class at Dixie State University with money she had saved up from babysitting. She went on to receive a full scholarship to attend Dixie State while having six kids at home.
She also received a full-ride scholarship to Southern Utah University, where she ultimately got her bachelor’s degree in fine arts. A week after she graduated, Scott said Dixie State hired her as an art professor, where she remained for 15 years. She also taught art at Tuacahn High School.
With her first art pieces formally shown at Dixie State, Scott said she also worked at the first art gallery in town, which was located in Ancestry Square. And she used the money earned at the gallery to pay for her frames. Winning prizes for her art and selling them early on, she said she is grateful to have had many great mentors, including Robert L. Shepherd, an artist that also created the jewelry and set design for The Ten Commandments.
Scott said she used to take her paintings to be framed at Sunset Framer back when they were located on Main Street and followed the original owners to the new location, where she continues to bring her art to be framed and said she is very pleased with the new owners.
“They’re artsy kids and they’re doing a good service for the community,” Scott said. “I support them. I’ll send people out here because I trust their quality.”
Scott has a full art gallery inside her home, where she also teaches art. Her art is currently being showcased throughout several galleries in Southern Utah. She has also signed up to teach two classes for community education next fall at Dixie State. For more information on Mel Scott and her art, click here.
The Sunset Framer Gallery also features four pieces by Jeff Ham, an international artist, who has done custom framing through Sunset Framer for around 20 years.
Ham is a contemporary, southwestern artist that is known for his bison, Native American, horse and other western-themed impressionistic acrylic paintings. For more information on Ham and his art, click here.
Art by Mary Manning can also be found in the gallery, featuring art found by patterns in nature, which can be seen here.
Sunset Framer and Art Gallery is located in the Pheonix Plaza on Sunset Boulevard. Every piece of art in the gallery is available for purchase. For more information about Sunset Framer and Art Gallery, art on consignment, framing services and more, click here.
Photo Gallery
The sign for Sunset Framer and Gallery hangs outside the studio, St. George, Utah, May 14, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Erin and David Martin, owners of Sunset Framer and Art Gallery stand in their studio, St. George, Utah, May 14, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Arts hangs on the wall at Sunset Framer and Gallery, St. George, Utah, May 14, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Attendees of the gallery opening enjoy refreshments, St. George, Utah, May 14, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Arts sits on the counter at Sunset Framer and Gallery, St. George, Utah, May 14, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Artwork by Jeff Ham sits on an easel at Sunset Framer and Gallery, St. George, Utah, May 14, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Artwork by Jeff Ham sits on an easel at Sunset Framer and Gallery, St. George, Utah, May 14, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Mel Scott stands with some of her artwork, May 10, 2022, St. George, Utah, May 14, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Art by Mel Scott sits on a counter, May 10, 2022, St. George, Utah, May 14, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Mel Scott stands with some of her artwork, May 10, 2022, St. George, Utah, May 14, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Art by Mel Scott sits on the floor of the gallery waiting to be hung, May 10, 2022, St. George, Utah, May 14, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
John Mangles stands by his art, May 10, 2022, St. George, Utah, May 14, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
John Mangles' art hangs on the wall at Sunset Framer and Gallery, May 10, 2022, St. George, Utah, May 14, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
John Mangles stands by his art, May 10, 2022, St. George, Utah, May 14, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
John Mangles' art hangs on the wall at Sunset Framer and Gallery, May 10, 2022, St. George, Utah, May 14, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
John Mangles' art hangs on the wall at Sunset Framer and Gallery, May 10, 2022, St. George, Utah, May 14, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
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