Doug Ashbury
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 10/99) - Yellowknife contemporary artist Dawn Oman has some new walls to hang her work on.

Oman has opened an art gallery in the main floor of her home on 47th Street.

"This is where I live and work. People are always trying to track me down and see what works I have," she said.

Now, Oman's originals, her art cards, prints and other products are all in the one location.

And the location, across from the Goga Cho building, is no stranger to business. It has previous lives as a bed and breakfast and as a clothing store.

By opening the gallery, Oman will also have more control over pricing.

It also means she will probably be creating more originals. So far, Oman has a portfolio of 200 original acrylic paintings. Much of her artistic time is taken up with commission work.

"I've been looking for a place to do this for a year. It's something I really wanted," she said.

Oman, who has been painting since she was a child, is originally from Yellowknife.

She sold her first painting in 1994 through the Arctic Art Gallery, then owned by Marg Baile.

Most Yellowknifers see Oman's work everyday. Her images were chosen for last year's NorthwesTel phonebook cover. And earlier this year, the last three panels on the north wall of Canadian Tire were completed. The panels were started three years ago for the Festival of the Midnight Sun.

Oman's art studio officially opens Saturday at noon. The studio will feature about 45 of her original paintings.

As well as the retail and display area, the gallery includes a studio and a work room.