Step inside Freed Gallery

By Sabine Wilson

For the TODAY

Since Freed Gallery was founded more than 25 years ago, it has captured the hearts of countless admirers. From art connoisseurs and collectors to tourists, locals and even the people who simply drive past it every day, it has become a staple of the coast and a catalyst for creativity.

“I have always loved art and music,” said Lee Freed, gallery founder and owner. “I wanted to provide a space for art and music to flourish.”

Freed was managing a real estate company in the Chicago area before moving to Lincoln City and opening the gallery.

And how beautifully the gallery has developed. Every detail seems to be perfectly curated — the spinning, kinetic wind sculptures outside, the winding and almost ethereal staircase, the soaring 18-foot-high ceilings and not to mention the incredible art surrounding you. The building itself is a work of art in its own right. Even the walls were made with great thought and innovation.

“All of the walls inside are on wheels,” Freed said. “This makes the space flexible for when we want to change the displays or if we are to host an event. I’ve invested a lot of time and energy into every part of the gallery just getting it right.”

That includes the outside — almost everyone who has driven by can recall artist Lyman Whitaker’s definitive spinning sculptures on the Freed Gallery lawn.

“The wind sculptures have come to represent the Pacific Northwest,” Freed said. “Many people identify them with Lincoln City and that makes it fun. They’re a wonderful attraction to invite people to come inside. We don’t mind a bit if you walk on our lawn to enjoy them.”

While the whimsical feeling begins outside the gallery, walking inside feels like walking into a dreamlike scene where every corner is colorful and show-stopping and evokes feelings of joy and fascination.

“When I was designing the layout, I wanted to make it so that people can simply enjoy the art and give them a chance to feel good,” Freed said. “We want to create a space for people to feel happy when they’re looking at the art, especially after the unhappy times we’ve all been enduring.”

But Freed’s passions go so much further than curating a beautiful art gallery. Her focus also sets the stage for the next generation of artists and musicians.

“My main prerogative was to inspire children,” she said.

Fortunately, this has come true.

“When I started, I wanted the children to come,” Freed said. “And luckily they have, and continue to come in. We get schools who come through and are able to interact with the art.”

It was always important to Freed to inspire kids to create.

“One of the ways we brought art to the schools was by starting with ‘art carts,’” Freed said. The carts would be full of supplies that could be used in the classroom. “That was so we could give the teachers the tools to implement art into their day-to-day lives.”

Freed recalls some of her favorite projects that involved former employee Krista Eddy, who is now the director of the Chessman Gallery in the Lincoln City Cultural Center.

“Krista taught the children to draw fruit and vegetables and then they painted them on the walls in the dining hall,” Freed said. “We have also held benefits that raised money for music where musicians came into schools to teach kids music. It provided the opportunity for each child to learn about different instruments and even take them home.”

Freed also enjoys the connections she makes to artists who join the gallery family.

“One of my favorite parts of the job is meeting and working with the artists, many of whom have become friends,” Freed said. “I just love being in the gallery, that’s all.”

The gallery currently spotlights more than 84 artists, all with a unique and distinct process. But Freed says she is interviewing new artists almost daily.

Throughout her 25-year presence in Lincoln County, Freed has accomplished one thing for sure: she has made the community better than she found it.

“We just love being a part of the community,” she said. “Come in and enjoy a few minutes of the arts. We would love to have you.”

Freed Gallery is located at 6119 SW Hwy. 101 and is open Thursday through Monday from 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday from noon to 5 pm. For more information, go to freedgallery.com.