About Us
Your Northwest Artist Showcase
The Elsinore Framing & Fine Art Gallery is located in the heart of the Willamette Valley in downtown Salem, Oregon. The founders, Steve & Barb Narkaus began the vision for the business in 1985, having previously run several businesses in the area. Their goal was to open a small gallery space for Barb that would provide quality custom framing as the mainstay business.
Starting out in a small mall location in 1986, their business grew to include two locations: Candalaria Gallery in South Salem and Creekside Gallery in Keizer. In 1996, the galleries were consolidated and moved to downtown Salem, next to the historic Elsinore Theater, from which the current gallery gets it’s name. The gallery remained at that location for 12 years. The new store at it’s current location, opened in November of 2007 after 12 years and kept the name for continuity. The new store features 4,000 square feet of display and framing space with:
- A spacious Main Gallery with an ever-changing display gallery featuring prints and original artwork.
- A smaller Show Gallery featuring monthly exhibits.
- A new, expanded design center and framing facilty.
- The largest selection of custom framing products in the Salem area.
- Specialty framing including Fabric artwork, Shadowbox design, and Conservation design.
- Custom Ready-made Frame Center with over 200 quality wood frames.
- The gallery features one of the most productive frame shops in the Northwest.
In 2016, a new investment group purchased majority share of the gallery and took on an ambitious gallery renovation including:
- New carpeting, paint & trim.
- A newly expanded Frame It Fast ready-made frame center.
- Updated lighting, Logos and signage for the gallery.
- A NEW Featured Artist Showcase gallery display
- And much more
Recently, the gallery partnered with Artists in action to open a cooperative gallery within the confines of the main gallery space. This changed the Featured Artist Showcase program as artists were actively involved in the gallery, rather than merely consigning work. Although this model venture lasted for just a short time, most of the AiA artists have remained with gallery and are still active in out shows and events. AiA continues to hold at least 3 Major shows here each year as well as their Members’ Meetings and Classes.
The Gallery has expanded it’s Gallery display to include 4 unique art spaces:
Our Main Gallery Space- local artists’ original work
Our Smaller Show Gallery-home to our monthly featured shows.
Our Multi-use gallery space for Classes, Receptions & More
Our Smallest Art-Space in the back of the store
We have a great staff of designers and framers here at the gallery. Here’s just little bit about our team…
Our Founders:
Steve Narkaus Steve is a native Oregonian who’s commitment to the Salem business community had been recognized by many of his colleagues and fellow businessmen. He opened the gallery with his wife Barb in 1986 and had been involved in all aspects of the business through the years. He has officially retired from the business but remains in contact with the gallery..
Barb Narkaus Although Barb left the business to teach art at North Salem High School, she had remained active involved in the gallery through the years. She has been a valued consultant on shows and exhibits and has her featured gallery on the premises with her golf and landscape paintings. Barb & Steve now reside in Nampa, ID. in their retirement.
Our Staff
Brent Allen – General Manager/Owner
Brent has been in the art and framing field since 1990 and has managed two long-standing art and frame galleries in his career. His degree in Music (Art minor), and his interest in the history of art and music, have helped him fine tune his skills in both art consultation and design.
In addition to scheduling all of the gallery shows and artists, he also designs and cuts many of the mats and works in the frame shop along with the framing staff. Brent is a part-owner of the gallery and has taken the lead in the day to day operations of the gallery including social media/website maintenance and general gallery design.
Jennifer Saeed–Designer/Framing
Jennifer has been with the gallery for 7 years. She is an artist and has worked in the education field as well as having worked for Michael’s in the framing dept. She has recently become a part owner of the gallery.
Shami McCurry – Designer/Framing Staff
Shami is also an artist, designer and baker who has worked locally at Affordable Framing in Salem. She joined our team in 2022.
OUR PROMISE You will find our staff to be friendly, knowledgeable and capable. We value our clients and will make every effort to provide the best service and care for all of our art and framing needs.
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