The idea of starting the gallery first came to me when I began visiting the Jim Thorpe area in 1997. The remarkable landscape, the emergence of a growing arts community, and the steady flow of visitors who come to town each year combined with my own love of photography pointed to establishing a gallery whose sole focus would be exceptional photography.

When I purchased 9 West Broadway in 2002, I realized I could put together a space that would reflect the passion that I feel for both photography and for the character and history of the community itself, and provide talented photographers with a place to present their work to the public.

I'm lucky to have a stylistically diverse group of artists in the gallery. Chip Forelli's luminous landscapes, Pierrot Men's haunting images of Madagascar, Daniel Jones' classic large-format studies and Victoria Blewer's elegiac, hand-colored prints are, to name just a few, examples of the work of nationally recognized fine art photographers on view at Dakota Ridge.

I recently added a new gallery room as the number of artists represented has grown. Each individual photographer stands out as a compelling talent. For some, Dakota Ridge is providing them their first gallery representation. For others, this gallery is a unique addition to a long list of galleries that recognize the quality of their work. Taken together, their work provides an exceptionally pleasing and wide-ranging visual experience.

I think you'll like what you see. Feel free to call for an appointment if my usual weekend hours don't work for you.