Sonya’s on Historic Route 66 opened its doorways greater than three years in the past. Initially, the institution was an vintage retailer with boutique parts, however after the closing of the Sundown Middle for renovations, Sonya Lukas, proprietor of Sonya’s on Historic Route 66, realized that Amarillo had misplaced an outlet for the artwork neighborhood and remodeled her enterprise right into a gallery.
“Early on, I didn’t have very a lot on the partitions and I boo-hooed and I mentioned, ‘God, might you simply deliver me some wall work? These partitions are so ugly,’” Lukas mentioned.
Now, the institution is roofed from flooring to ceiling in art work from native artists, in addition to three-dimensional items displayed all through the gallery.
“We have such a various group of artists, such a various kind of media,” Lukas mentioned. “We have now pictures, work, sculptures, and jewellery.”
She additionally mentioned the gallery’s extra unique items comparable to bullet jewellery and kaleidoscopes created by artist David Corbin.
Sadly, for the reason that outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the gallery, together with many different small companies, has been negatively impacted, because of the lack of tourism.
As a result of tourism was the primary supply for the gallery’s revenue, it has seen a drop in gross sales.
The pandemic has additionally hit Lukas extra personally as she and her husband, Jay, who can also be very concerned within the gallery and created the area for the artwork to hold, each contracted the virus final month, leading to Sonya closing the gallery till she was in a position to get well. Jay Lukas continues to be recovering.
To assist the gallery, Dana Crandell, a photographer whose work is on show within the gallery, and who’s a pal to Lukas, created a GoFundMe account on behalf of the Route 66 gallery.
“She grew to become considering displaying artwork, and it blossomed,” mentioned Crandell. “She’s been struggling to maintain the doorways open at no revenue, so we as an artwork neighborhood tried to get collectively to do one thing.
“It is actually a household ambiance,” Crandell mentioned, urging the general public to go to Sonya’s or donate to the GoFundMe.
The gallery hosts a 2nd Friday Artwork Stroll every month to rejoice the artwork neighborhood and herald artwork lovers.
Sonya’s on Historic Route 66 is open Monday by Saturday, 10 a.m. to six p.m., however will likely be closed for Labor Day.
Each Lukas and Crandell urge the neighborhood to go to the gallery or donate to the GoFundMe at www.gofundme.com/f/help-save-sonyas-on-historic-route-66
