716: Fine Art

By Lee B. Roberts
Journal Times
Thursday, September 18, 2008 10:33 AM CDT

Music and art are on the move with Downtown’s 716: Fine Art Gallery. The gallery, which was located at 401 Main St., is in the process of moving into a new home just a half-block away at 321 Main. It was about a year ago this week that owner David Geisler moved the 716 gallery to Racine from its previous home at 716 58th St. in Kenosha.

Since then he has featured a number of artists’ shows, as well as an intimate concert series called Inside the Music at his Racine location. The latest move, Geisler says, is an effort to create the gallery in a space that is more suitable to his business’ needs. While the new location offers less space (it is about two-thirds the size of the previous location), it has other advantages including a back loading dock and a parking area. After a year of getting to know Racine’s artists and clientele, Geisler said he will be focusing more on solo exhibits, giving each featured artist two months to show their work at 716. He also said he wants to continue hosting events at his gallery, from artists’ opening receptions to open mic nights and acoustic concerts. Geisler’s background in theater also has him thinking about new performance possibilities such as four-person micro-theater shows, he said.

“It is important that the gallery is a space where art can be presented in all of its forms,” he said.

But first, renovations of 716’s new space — which have included exposing brick walls and removal of a drop ceiling — must be completed. Geisler said he is hoping to open the new gallery in time for Party on the Pavement on Oct. 4, and if that isn’t possible, he will open with an artist show in November.