Business Spotlight: Art gallery offers local work, national limited editions

In the span of 30 feet, you can go from admiring jewelry to viewing black-and-white photography to looking at modern pop art. Yet somehow, a certain flow is maintained within that space, and your senses are not overwhelmed.

Owner Kate Fesperman said the rhythmic feeling customers experience as they walk through Rivers Run Gallery was achieved through feng shui, an Asian philosophy that creates an ergonomic environment by following the patterns of nature. Sharon Cates, a local feng shui practitioner, aided Fesperman and her staff in placing cures for glitches that interfered with the positive flow of good energy.

Cates also used an ancient Japanese Bagua chart as she assisted in placing art and other items within the gallery to create an open flow of happiness, family values, prosperity and peace. Once the work was complete, Cates led a feng shui blessing ceremony that brought together Fesperman, her staff and their closest friends and family members so they could extend positive energy and best wishes for the gallery's success.

The feng shui ceremony marked the beginning of a new era for Rivers Run Gallery. Fesperman bought the gallery in 1998, which previously had been owned by her mother, Phyllis Simpson. Last March, Fesperman moved the gallery from the Plaza Shopping Center on South Glenstone to its current location in the Fremont Shopping Center on East Battlefield.

Rivers Run Gallery contains the work of many talented local artists, such as Daniel Flodin, who had one of the Top 50 limited edition releases in the United States in 1999, as rated by Art Publishers. Other local artists include Sue Baldwin, Mavis Fender, Jane Parker, Sheila Renfrow, Ivan Kovacevic, Kirk Von Rohr and Josh Mitchell. The gallery also serves as the exclusive distributor for several nationally renowned artists, such as Alexandria Nechita and P. Buckley Moss.

Some of the artwork at Rivers Run Gallery is original while other pieces are limited editions. In addition, the gallery's staff helps customers locate prints and limited editions produced by their favorite artists, that can only be obtained through select dealers in other areas of the country.

Rivers Run Gallery also does a lot of custom frame work, and the gallery has a huge selection of mats and frames. Some of the frames are unique, and the staff often helps customers pick out a frame that will enhance their artwork. In fact, the gallery specializes in conservation framing, a specialized technique that's used to avoid damaging or changing a piece of artwork after it is framed.

In addition, the gallery contains an eclectic mix of art and accessories that reflect the different styles and tastes of each employee. Although all four employees work part-time, it's evident that they view their work at Rivers Run Gallery as something more than just a job. According to Fesperman, all of the work at the gallery is done in the spirit of "kaizen," a Japanese concept that stresses the importance of continuous improvement.

"The staff and I celebrate the art in all things, and we honor the fact that those who work here are the business' greatest strength," Fesperman said.

Julie Williams does much of the matting and frame work at the gallery, and she continually keeps abreast of new design trends. Laurie Knowlton has a degree in design and works with individual and corporate clients, who want to buy and place artwork in their homes or office buildings. Krysten Rogers, Fesperman's daughter, is a senior at Parkview High School and may major in art when she goes to college, and Donna Smith, the store's newest employee, keeps the books and handles many of the gallery's direct sales. Fesperman also works at the gallery part-time when she's not working as a dental assistant for Dr. Jerry Fankhauser.

"The reason this business is a success is that every employee here loves art, and they love what they're doing," Fesperman said.

Rivers Run Gallery

Year founded: 1990

Owner's name: Kate Fesperman

Address and phone number: 1336 E. Battlefield, Springfield, Mo. 65804; 883-0020