Gallery 564 Opens In Severna Park, Features Local Artists

After 35 years in the custom homebuilding business, Michael Brown couldn’t shake his photography passion and the urge to pick up his camera again. For years, he exhibited and sold his work locally before deciding to renovate a family-owned storefront into a gallery.

After months of preparation to procure just the right mix of art, Gallery 564, located at 564 Baltimore-Annapolis Boulevard, celebrated an open house on August 24 to the delight of curious neighbors and fine art connoisseurs.

“This is so not what I expected but in a totally phenomenal way!” exclaimed Severna Park resident Jenny Davids, who attended the gallery opening in support of her neighbor and artist exhibitor, Jill Galloway. As the co-founder of Hen House Linens, Davids has an eye for color and texture, and what she saw at Gallery 564 didn’t disappoint.

“I am absolutely blown away by what I’ve seen so far,” said Davids at the gallery opening. “All of my itches have been scratched and I’ve only been through the first room. I am so excited to see more!”

At Gallery 564, dozens of thought-provoking, bold and contemporary art pieces in vibrant colors and fascinating textures adorn the stark white walls. Brown said he wanted all of the pieces to feel like a collection of art rather than collections of artists; therefore, pieces are hung where they are most visually appealing, not necessarily next to another piece by the same artist. The art media are as eclectic as the artists themselves: acrylic, oil, watercolor, pastel, chalk, wood, fused glass and mixed media.

“I wanted to create a place for local artists,” said Brown, who visited galleries to study layout and lighting before coming up with what he believes is the perfect setting to show the work of multiple artists.

In early 2018, a simple “coming soon” sign with a message for interested exhibitors was all it took for Brown to tap into the wealth of talented and unique artists in Severna Park. He had a difficult task whittling a list down to 16 artists, with several more waiting to exhibit.

For a monthly fee, artists can exhibit their artwork. Brown said the pieces would be interchanged often. Gallery 564 also hosts paint-and-sip nights and monthly small-group classes taught by artists.

Artists currently showing at Gallery 564 include: John Bildahl, photography (Annapolis); Sandy Travis Bildahl, abstract oils on canvas (Annapolis); Michael Brown, photography (Crownsville); Ronaldo Dorado, watercolor (Severna Park); Cindy Fletcher Holden, photorealistic and abstract (Annapolis); Jill Galloway, watercolor and oils (Severna Park); Janice Hendra, watercolors (Severna Park); Joan Herder, oils on canvas (Severna Park); Deborah Hines, fused glass (Arnold); Charles Lawrance, oil and acrylic on canvas (Annapolis); Nichole Leavy, mixed media (Pasadena); Michael Matthews, encaustics (Annapolis); Linda McNamara, oils on canvas (Severna Park); Bodi Nolan, photography (Pasadena); Mark Lipschitz, wooden tables and slabs (Arnold); and Michael Whitehead, pastels and acrylics (Baltimore).

For more information, visit the “Gallery 564” Facebook page or contact Brown at gallery564@comcast.net or by phone at 443-871-1195.