Helena Mason Gallery Closes
Jamie and Natalie Sanchez announced this week their decision to close their Helena Mason Art Gallery at 48 Helena Street in the SB Funk Zone on September 27, immediately after their final exhibition party the same evening. The event offered one last look and serious discounts for purchases of the works of current exhibiting artists Luca Barberini, Pedro de la Cruz, and Sylvan Butera Rich.
The decision came after experiencing a sudden and precipitous decline in business in 2024 compared to their high-volume success in 2023, including the leasing of the space for private events.
I spoke with Natalie just prior to the event start. She explained, “We [Jamie and I] kept finding each month this year a steady and large decline in both sales and attendance at our openings, and in general. It finally came down to us making the call to say as of October 1, the gallery is closed. We are exploring options to lease the space. My work in the arts is not done yet. I love the community in the arts. We’ve met some great artists, Funk Zone business owners and customers, some who have become our good friends. Art is such a healing thing for me. I am thinking about doing work with our local nonprofit art organizations and how I can help them.”
I asked her if she ever thought about doing any form of art herself. She smiled and shared, “I might dabble in art. I definitely want to take classes with Tami Macala at her SB School of Mosaic Art.”
We next talked about with her gallery closed, how for certain there are no galleries with the same type of artist contracts she held. She said that perhaps there may be at the Art and Soul Gallery at 116 Santa Barbara Street, but couldn’t speak for the owners. Private galleries, like Sullivan Goss, have strict guidelines and contracts for the artists they represent. Other guests mentioned exhibitions at local breweries in the Funk Zone; however the wall space is limited and lighting the art is questionable.
At the event, Jana Brody, the SB County District 2 Arts Commissioner and an artist herself, offered, “This gallery closing comes after Bonnie Rubenstein decided to retire and close her gallery rental space at Silo 118 on Gray Avenue end of January 2024, just shy of its sale to new owners who may have shut it down anyway.”
The lack of art sales at local galleries is also expressed by individual artists selling out of their studios. No one seems to hold the answer to the decreased support.
Seen at the event with hugs and love, many with flowers, were artists Wallace Piatt, Chris Gocong and wife Mandy, and Rod Lathim; and business owners Luisa Hyatt (Rincon Brewery), Erica Brown (Dylan Star Boutique), Jill Johnson (LOVEWORN), and Teddi Drew (SB Trolley). Sentiments overheard from the constant flow of guests included, “Tell me it isn’t true, [sigh], the lack of support in the area for art!”
Expressing her sentiments via text, Ashley Woods Hollister, a major supporter and entrepreneur of the arts in SB County, wrote “Sorry I can’t be there, sending a big hug to Natalie and can’t wait to see her next project. The gallery closing is sad because her space is so beautiful. It has been so amazing of her to have done all she did for the arts community!”
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