Portland's City Arts Owes Artists: Two Months After Closing

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Produced by: 
KBOO
Program:: 
Air date: 
Wed, 03/26/2008 - 5:00pm

 When City Arts LLC opened in November 2006, gallery owners hoped it would be like Saturday Market with a roof. But fourteen months after opening, the gallery owners have had to tell about ninety artists that the gallery would be closing.Now, almost two months later, many artists have yet to be paid the remaining balance owed them for sold artwork.The city also wants its money, serving the owners with a lawsuit on March 18th in an attempt to collect the unpaid rent.Sculptor Michelle Gallagher, was the first artist to file a small claims court lawsuit against City Arts owners for the money she’s owed.That was sculptor Michelle Gallagher, who is one of dozens of artists still waiting to be paid for artwork sold by City Arts Gallery. Some artists are standing behind the City Arts owners and blame the pitfalls on a fickle art economy.  

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