(Photos courtesy of Amelia O’Dougherty)
Growing up in Ashland, Oregon, Amelia Morton always loved playing “store” as a child. She’s been an artist for as long as she can remember, and has a deep interest in the curation and operation of retail spaces.
Morton, the founder of Sisters’ newest art gallery, Space in Common, took the opportunity to pursue gallery ownership when she found an ad on Craigslist for a small retail space in Downtown Sisters in March of 2023.
“The time I spent designing and creating the space was such a joyful unfolding,” Morton said. “My husband, John, built most of the displays, and I had help from my mom, my sister and my incredible employees to get everything up and running.”
Morton runs the business, which operates in three main ways: gallery, creative studio and retail shop. “My goal from the beginning has been to create a space that fosters and supports community creativity,” Morton said.
As a gallery, Space in Common hosts a variety of local artists, participates in events hosted by the Sisters Arts Association such as the 4th Friday Art Walk, and works with artists to grow their local following. “My focus right now is on local up-and-coming artists who are establishing their place as the future of art in Central Oregon,” Morton said.
Second, the business operates as a retail space that supports local artists. Everything in the shop is purchased from the artists upfront to support their work. “We are proud to carry work from over 30 makers and artists in our shop,” Morton said. “We also have a small selection of art supplies!”
Finally, the business also operates as a creative studio. This educational element exists to help advance the local arts community, and takes place in the form of small classes and workshops hosted at Space in Common. “We host creative workshops for people of all skill levels and ages, including watercolor, drawing, wreath making, beading, and many more classes to come,” Morton said.
Morton said that her philosophy in running the business is all about the people. “My goal is to bring people through the door to be a part of what’s going on, rather than just trying to sell them beautiful things, and to serve the year-round locals and tourists alike. Of course I need to make sales to stay open, but my focus is on people and connection,” she said.
Morton wants to thank the thriving art community in Sisters and the Sisters Arts Association for making this goal of hers possible.
“There is a strong feeling of collaboration rather than competition between gallery owners, which ends up serving all of us and elevating our offerings,” Morton said. “It is so meaningful to see the support for art in Sisters represented in many ways, from the number of local restaurants and other businesses who display local art, to artists’ involvement with events like The Sisters Folk Festival and The Sisters Quilt Show.”
In the future, Morton wants to focus on expanding the gallery’s educational opportunities for the community, with a focus on helping support artists who are just beginning their journey of selling work and surviving as an artist. “There is so much knowledge to be shared when it comes to marketing, pricing, social media and all of the behind the scenes elements of running a business,” Morton said. “So many of us have learned this through trial and error, and I want to create a space where that knowledge can be easily shared with the next wave of artists in our community.”
Morton said that, despite having some initial fear with this undertaking, she felt supported the entire way through by a thriving arts community.
She said, “Sisters is a town filled with artists and people who appreciate creativity, and I am honored to be a part of this community.”
spaceincommon.com • 351 W Hood Ave., Sisters
