Upper Lake >> In a small art gallery on the main street of Upper Lake, artist and gallery owner Max Butler is bringing together a convergence of ideas. The gallery is called SA-SAM, which is a Tibetan word meaning crossroads. “In that sense I’d like to create there a sort of crossroads of new ideas and see what happens,” said Butler. SA-SAM’s grand opening is today from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Butler will be showing his work along with gourd art and jewelry by Pinky Mitchell. The gallery is located at 9495 Main St., number 9.
At the age of five, Butler began creating art. One of his earliest memories is of painting pictures of people he thought were his ancestors. Those paintings planted to seeds for years of artwork to come. “Much of my work is centered around Buddhism so a lot of it is spiritual work,” Butler explained.
Butler decided to open the gallery as a way to show his own artwork, but he’s inviting artists to show their creations alongside his. After all, the whole idea is to bring together various ideas.
To show art at SA-SAM, an artist doesn’t have to be a professional, but they do have to be good. And though Butler’s work is often spiritual in nature, other artwork doesn’t have to fit that category, just as long as there’s a message. “I’d like the art that’s presented, if it can, say something, communicate with people,” Butler said. “A lot of art that we look at is a cliché. It may be pretty, but it doesn’t say anything.”
The motto of SA-SAM is “Beauty, Love and Freedom” so work exemplifying one or all of those concepts is encouraged, though that doesn’t necessarily mean the message has to be a pleasant one.
SA-SAM progressed quickly. A month ago it didn’t even exist. Then, Butler was with a friend on Main St. and found the empty location. He realized immediately it was the perfect place for a gallery. As he described it, the entire thing was spontaneous. “It’s not a big space but I want to use that space to exhibit really nice fine art,” he said. “I want to look at the art that people want to present and I want to provide a different, unique place for them to do it.”
With so many artists living around the area, finding a place to display may present some challenges. Butler hopes providing more gallery space benefits his fellow artists and the county at large. “It offers another opportunity for people to show their work,” he explained. “The emphasis will be on communication whether it be spiritual or social … If it’s successful and people are interested, it will help the whole tourist thing. I think that will be a valuable aspect of what I’m doing.”
While he’s shown work in the Main Street Galley in Lakeport and down in Berkeley and San Francisco, Butler has been thinking about opening a place of his own for a number of years. It wasn’t until a decade after retirement that he decided to pursue the idea. “I always wanted to be able to show my work. It seemed to me this would be a great opportunity to do that and invite other artists,” he said. “I’m trying to make a very nice, quiet spot where people can come in and just look at art.”
Diego Harris, the owner of Diego’s Gallery, also in Upper Lake, appreciates Butler’s perspective. “The good thing about him is he kind of looks at it in a good way,” Harris said. “He’s not trying to start some fad or anything, he just wants to have his art well-represented.”
Butler moved to Upper Lake four years ago at the suggestion of his Buddhist teacher. When making the move he couldn’t help but notice the numerous empty storefronts. Though he’s been happy with his relocation, he wanted to do something positive to contribute to the town’s economy.
There are already two galleries in Upper Lake, Lake County Wine Studio (LCWS) and Diego’s Gallery, but Butler doesn’t worry about overcrowding. On the contrary, he believes adding another gallery to the area can do nothing but benefit the area. “Having more artistic things going on helps out all the other things going on,” he explained.
Harris shares Butler’s views on the town’s growing art scene. Visitors and locals alike often complain that businesses are rarely open, and Harris feels the influx of more art will help to quell those complaints. “More art is always better than less art,” he said. “As long as we have good art in Lake County that people are impressed with then it will give us all a reputation of being a worthy destination for art.”
SA-SAM, Diego’s Gallery and LCWS each have their own distinct vibe as well, which eases competition concerns. Instead of acting as rivals, Butler sees the galleries working together to boost business all around. “Someone that comes to my gallery may not like it but they may want to go to Diego’s Gallery or check out the wine studio,” he said.
Harris expressed a similar sentiment, especially considering he constructs large, metal sculptures, and Butler works in oil painting, ceramics and graphic art. “I’m not exactly worried about him competing because his stuff is totally different from mine,” he said. “He’ll probably know people I don’t know and they’ll probably buy from me and the other way too.”
Since becoming involved in the Lake County art scene, Butler has noticed that artists are working hard to bring people into the county. However, art isn’t all about tourism. It’s is also a way for people to find themselves. “It doesn’t have to be because they want to make money,” he added.
Butler didn’t become a professional artist until retirement, but his deep passion for creation has meant he’s constantly practiced art on the side. “I find personally that in doing art it’s the happiest experience I have, even when sometimes it doesn’t work,” he said.
But artistry is about more than just about the self, at least for Butler. “I think art is very important, especially if it can say an important message to other people,” he explained. “These days people need a kind of guidance that can come from art. That’s why I’m a passionate about it, because I do believe that art can help people and it helps me too.”
Jennifer Gruenke can be reached at 900-2019.
Cutline 1:
A sculpture by Max Butler, titled “Beauty, Love & Freedom” will be on displat at SA-SAM gallery’s grand opening this afternoon.
Cutline 2:
Artwork by Max Butler.
