Interview with Dan and Nancy Morrow,
owners of The Gallery at Ten Oaks

Tell​ ​us​ ​a​ ​bit​ ​about​ ​your​ ​business:  What​ ​does​ ​your​ ​business​ ​offer,​ ​and​ ​how​ ​long have​ ​you​ ​been​ ​around?​ ​ 
The Gallery at Ten Oaks is a fine art gallery set in a 1908 Craftsman house located across from Linfield College. We showcase almost 40 artists with over 1,000 pieces of art – and growing! We offer local Oregon wines by the glass, and we curate our art in 3 tasting rooms – Bjornson Vineyard, Yamhill Valley Vineyard, and Franny Beck.

How did you decide to get involved in this line of work? How did the business get started?  
After running Movietime Video for almost 16 years, we decided it was time to close and move on to another chapter of our lives. As we owned the building, we contemplated whether we should lease the building or run another business. As we love being part of the community, starting another business felt right. It was suggested to us that the building would be an ideal location for an art gallery so that’s what we did!

Tell​ ​us​ ​a​ ​couple​ ​things​ ​you​ ​are​ ​proud​ ​of​ ​about​ ​your​ ​business.​ ​  What​ ​are​ ​you known​ ​for?​ ​What​ ​separates​ ​you​ ​from​ ​the​ ​competition?​ ​
We are most proud of the group of artists we have brought in. They are so supportive of each other, attend each other’s events, and inspire each other. We also love that we were able to almost restore our building to its original state. A few things we couldn’t change as they were changed years ago, but for the most part, the history of the building is intact, including the original fir wood floors on the stairs and upstairs that were brought back to their original 1908 beauty!

Marilyn Affolter Fine Art Gallery

What is your favorite part of running this business?
Being surrounded by the beautiful art! It’s a pleasure coming to work and being in such an inspiring, beautiful place. We love when the artists drop by and chat and hang out, too. This particular business has provided us so many more opportunities to be involved in the community and meet other business owners which is also important.

Who is your ideal customer/client? Who do you serve best?
Our ideal customer is anyone who has a love of art whether you realize it or not. So many people don’t realize that art CAN be affordable, and we have created a gallery that showcases that. We often believe we have to know art to buy art, and that’s not true. You only need to know if you like something or not! And we have so many pieces to choose from that there isn’t a customer who walks out who says they didn’t love this piece or that piece (and many end up taking them home!).

Marilyn Affolter Fine Art Gallery

Are​ ​there​ ​any​ ​special​ ​promotions,​ ​annual​ ​sales,​ ​or​ ​special​ ​events​ ​that​ ​you’d​ ​like to​ ​mention?​ 
We have artist receptions bi-monthly, and we host the monthly McMinnville Public Library Poetry Night (first Thursday of each month). We also like to host events like Guest Winery as well as Paintings to Poems. All are open to the public.

Is​ ​there​ ​any​ ​other​ ​information​ ​you’d​ ​like​ ​your​ ​potential​ ​customers/clients​ ​to​ ​know about​ ​your​ ​business?​ ​
​Our building is also home to the McMinnville Short Film Festival (another form of art!). We also have coloring books for all ages so come hang out among the art and color. Our events regularly draw in about 10-12 of our artists so they are great opportunities to meet the artists who’s work you may be drawn to!

How​ ​do​ ​you​ ​see​ ​your​ ​business​ ​growing​ ​and​ ​improving​ ​over​ ​the​ ​next​ ​couple​ ​of years?​ ​ ​
We see our business growing by the continuing support of those who come visit us and spreading the word. By getting out name out to the public that we are here. And by working with the other art galleries in town to continue supporting our community’s thriving art! Nancy is on the Yamhill County Tourism Partnership committee representing the county’s arts and culture industry. It’s been a great opportunity to promote all the arts in our area!

For more information about The Gallery at Ten Oaks, visit their business profile page on Keep It Local Mac HERE!