The Russell Collection: A second home Downtown

For four years, the Russell Collection has been comfortably perched in the northwest corner of the city, showcasing classic oils, pastels, lithographs, etchings, and aquatints from the likes of Rembrandt, Mary Cassatt, Marc Chagall, Toulouse-Lautrec, Manet, Picasso, Renoir, Matisse, Pissarro, and the artists of the French Barbizon school, among others, in the Arboretum. But with so much recent activity on the gallery scene in the heart of town, gallery owner Lisa Russell has decided to come on down to where the action is. As of this weekend, the West End space recently vacated by F8 Fine Art Gallery will be a new home for the Russell Collection. Don't mistake it for a move, however. Russell's original gallery is staying put and will continue to serve serious collectors of classic works where it always has. The new space is a second spot where Russell can try something different, mix it up a little, exhibiting contemporary artwork to complement the masters of yore. In the West Sixth location, you'll be able to find works by Ray Donley, Maxine Price, Oscar Riquelme, Jennifer Balkan, Tim Howe, Jill Pankey, Michael Klung, Laurence Parent, Michael Kessler, Steven Tugwell, Rodolfo Buonocore, and Brigitte Grassin Chombart de Lauwe – as it happens, many of them artists who were exhibited by Amy and Richard Griffin at F8. So gallery-goers will be getting the best of both worlds: a new venue that brings something different to the West End and one that preserves some of what made F8 a valuable addition to the scene. See for yourself this Saturday, Sept. 9, when the Russell Collection holds a grand-opening reception from 6-9pm in its new location, 1137 W. Sixth. For more information, call 342-0747, or visit www.russell-collection.com.