New art gallery opens in Kellogg

KELLOGG –– A recent addition to uptown Kellogg business scene has many locals excited for art.

CM Studio and Galley opened its doors in April of this year and for owner Cassie Hoialmen, it’s all about bringing art to Kellogg.

Hoialmen, 26, is a North Idaho native, spending her youth in the Kootenai County area before relocating to the Silver Valley with her husband.

An artist herself, she quickly realized that the art scene in Kellogg left quite a bit to be desired and began putting together a plan.

“I’ve always wanted to open an art gallery,” Hoialmen said. “I’ve always wanted to represent artists and in this town, there isn’t much of an art outlet.”

Her goal was to establish a place that could feature experienced artists, give newer artists a place to get their start, and cultivate a sense of community for the Silver Valley’s art lovers.

“We firmly believe in the power of art to transform lives and inspire connections within our community,” Hoialmen said.

With 14 artists currently occupying space at CM Studio and Gallery, she’s got quite the collection on display and for sale.

Hoialmen works exceptionally hard to curate art exhibitions that force people to stop really take a look rather than just a passing glance – on her website she states that one of her primary goals and who she is as a person is embracing things outside of traditional comfort zones.

“CM Studio and Gallery is not just a venue for showcasing art; it is a place where creativity flourishes, and boundaries are pushed,” Hoialmen said. “Through carefully curated exhibitions and events, we strive to foster an inclusive environment that embraces diversity and encourages collaboration among artists and art enthusiasts.”

So far, Hoialmen says that the reception from the community has been a positive one – and in a neighborhood of Kellogg that was previously known for being a hub of business that is working to return to that, she’s happy to be part of that regrowth.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony on her grand opening was hosted by the Silver Valley Chamber, and attended by many of her new neighboring businesses – all of whom are excited for there to be another reason to come to uptown Kellogg.

“I really wanted something in Kellogg, Wallace has the Eureka Sally Gallery, and I thought something like that could fit here in uptown Kellogg,” she said. “I want to be able to give a largely unrepresented group of people over here some representation.”

Hoialmen has already hosted a few workshops at the gallery, but plans to do more in the future – including coordinating with her artists to see if they would like to lead the classes.

As new works of art make their way into the galley as well as different artists, Hoialmen will be regularly hosting art walk events at the gallery as well.

Open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., CM Studio and Gallery is located at 115 McKinley Avenue in Kellogg.

You can also follow them on Facebook to see the work from many of the artists who are featured there.