JOHN HERBERT: A COUPLE LOCAL GALLERIES SEE A BUMP IN SALES >>>

Two Vaults Gallery owner Paula Tutmarc-Johnson had her first good month in a year. Art sales in July were so strong, in fact, that she actually drew a paycheck. Tutmarc-Johnson, like so many other business owners, has weathered an economic storm, or lull perhaps, as widespread unemployment and a general dearth of spending dough has crushed sales.

“I had a three week period where I sold one greeting card,” she says. “It’s gotten to a place for many of us where we don’t need a lot, but it’s been hard. I kind of decided to not let this one get me. But I had times when I thought I might be closing.”

Read my full report on local art sales on the Weekly Volcano's Web site.

Art by Dianne Kurzyna, part of Two Vault's Rabbitual.