Deann Armes, Special to the Standard-Examiner

A new art gallery makes its debut appearance at Ogden’s First Friday Art Stroll this week with a ribbon-cutting celebration and reception. Emmisoure Gallery, located inside the old C.W. Cross building at 2246 Washington Blvd., is a welcome enhancement to the city’s thriving art scene.

The gallery’s bright yellow logo (a stylized bee underbelly) can be seen from Tokyo Station restaurant across the street. Inside, the newly renovated historic space is filled with the photographic work of gallery owner Steven Robertson and selections from other artists.

Emmisoure, which opened quietly in early December, is a new venture for Ogden-resident Robertson. Readily admitting to a world of unknowns as a first-time art gallery owner, one thing he says with certainty is that it will be “dynamic and changing.”

Another quality, whether or not it’s a conscious intention, is distinction. Like it’s unfamiliar name, Robertson’s photography stands out from the crowd; it’s an eclectic assortment from wildlife portraiture to “still life” photos of Western outfits and ropes that are uniquely presented with the viewer’s experience and best expression of the subject in mind.

A layered hexagon-shaped mosaic on acrylic shows off millisecond captures of the life of a bee; an expansive portrait of a Buffalo printed on metal shows the individuality of an animal rarely witnessed; vivid emotions of animals in the wild are displayed in handmade barn wood frames. Even the personalities of inanimate objects are brought to life in Robertson’s photography.

Deann Armes, Special to the Standard-Examiner

“It’s on us to pay attention,” Robertson said of nature’s wonder. “It’s everywhere.”

Soon, he says he wants to experiment more with customized ratios, versus standard, to cater to what the photograph is asking for.

February will mark the two-year anniversary of Robertson’s bees.photo, a web project where he posts a new bee picture every day. 2022 bee calendars, in two sizes, are in stock at the gallery and will be available for purchase during the art stroll.

A hobby since high school, photography became a full-time trade for Robertson after leaving his decades-long career in network security. Over the past year, he’s been successful selling his work at art festivals that he travels to over the road with a trailer two to three weekends a month.

Now with a gallery to nurture, Robertson says he will travel a bit less. He is focused on bringing in a growing variety of artwork from other artists, including glass works. Like nature, there will always be something new to see. “Art is seeing,” he said.

Deann Armes, Special to the Standard-Examiner

A dedicated wall inside the gallery for Ogden’s First Friday Art Stroll will showcase a different artist every month, showing Robertson’s appreciative eye for other artists’ work. He is enthusiastic about his first featured artist, Kristin Alley Carver.

Carver is an Ogden-born and raised artist and printmaker who “finds divine in the ordinary,” exploring different mediums while primarily working with relief printmaking. Her bio statement that creating is her spiritual practice is heavily evident in the simple beauty of her grounding, nature-inspired work.

The Ogden Chamber of Commerce will kick off Emmisoure Gallery as an official art stroll location with a ribbon-cutting event on Friday at 4:30 p.m. followed by food, music and Carver’s art exhibit for the duration of the First Friday Art Stroll until 9 p.m.

For more information about Emmisoure Gallery and Steven Robertson, visit emmisoure.com, emmisoure.gallery and bees.photo, or call 801-809-3810.

See more about Carver at paperanthems.com or on Instagram @paper_anthems.

Deann Armes, Special to the Standard-Examiner