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Gregory Kate Gallery on The Alameda forced to close, ending Hogan's dream

By Mary Gottschalk

Chris Hogan has quietly closed his Gregory Kate Gallery at 925 The Alameda.

Hogan locked the doors on June 30, just 15 days short of what would have been his one-year anniversary in business.

"It was too slow. I never really made any money," Hogan says.

"I underestimated the amount of time it would take for it to become solvent."

The gallery, named after his son Gregory and daughter Kate, was literally a dream come true for Hogan.

When he opened the gallery in July 2007, Hogan explained its impetus.

"I kept having this dream where I was in an art gallery writing, and I thought, 'What the hey?'

"I needed a place to live, so I bought this live/work space and started this art gallery."

Hogan cheerfully admitted back then, "I have no experience running a gallery, but I do collect art. That's my experience with art."

It wasn't enough to make a living for Hogan, and the closing has saddened artists who exhibited there.

Photographer Noella Vigeant was featured in the opening show at Gregory Kate, which was also her first professional show.

"It's going to be a great loss for all the artists in that area," she says. "There's just not enough venues for artists to show and sell their stuff through."

Vigeant says her own experiences, from the opening show to participating in Open Studios there this past May, were great. "People that I didn't know came to see my work. They came specifically to see me, and that helps me keep pushing to do art."

Therese May, who is internationally known for her quilt art, participated in two group shows and was one of two artists in the final show at Gregory Kate.

"I really enjoyed working with Chris," she says.

"Every time I visited the Gregory Kate Gallery, I was welcomed like a guest in a friend's home. Chris and I had many heart-to-heart conversations, and I felt very nurtured as an artist.

"I was sad to find out he was closing the gallery doors, because the world needs more exhibit spaces with people like Chris running them, who believe in the importance of art in people's lives."

Hogan has put the loft that served as both his home and art galley on the market.

Once it sells, he's not sure what he'll do, although he is considering a job offer in San Diego.

"I had a great year and met some real nice people," he says. "It just didn't work out."