When longtime Mill Valley resident Kim Eagles-Smith (bottom left, above) moved his Kim Eagles-Smith Gallery from San Francisco to 23 Sunnyside Ave. in October 2019 – after a bit of arm-twisting from then-fellow SF gallery owner George Lawson, who moved his gallery to Mill Valley around the same time – he had no idea that he was in for the ride of his life.

Business openings and closings are a common phenomenon, but no one could have predicted the nightmarish rollercoaster that began five months later for businesses, particularly those that depend heavily on gathering art lovers into a room to appreciate, and purchase, art. Though Lawson closed his gallery in April 2020, Eagles-Smith stuck it out.

“There’s no doubt that (Kim has helped) make Mill Valley an art destination,” says Donna Seager, co-owner of longtime art industry stalwart Seager Gray Gallery at 108 Throckmorton Ave., who’s known both men for many years. “Mill Valley is becoming more and more densely cultural. We are so excited that they both are here – it’s great for us, great for them, great for our local restaurants and shops and great for the entire community.”

Seager Gray Gallery co-owner Donna Seager says Eagles-Smith, coupled with Robert Green Fine Arts and their gallery, “gives us such a broad spectrum of artwork to draw on. Not only does it not hurt us but it brings a high level of art collector that visits bonafide great galleries.” she says,” particularly as members of the influential SF Art Dealers Association.

Eagles-Smith is set to unveil a new exhibit this week with “Country/City: Coastal Villages and Urbanscapes,” by Susan Grossman, whose work is featured above. The show runs through Dec. 24, with an artist reception on Dec. 4, 4-6pm, featuring a special performance at 5pm by Alan Black, the principal cellist of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra.

MORE INFO ON THE KIM EAGLES-SMITH GALLERY.

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