The Aloft GalleryLocated in historic downtown Sonora, California, Aloft is a collective art gallery of over 40 local artists working in oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, mixed media, photography, jewelry, wood, and ceramic. The Aloft Gallery was established in 2008. All purchases must currently be made in the gallery.
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The history of our buildingThe Aloft Gallery is located in historic downtown Sonora, California in what was the famous Baer's Building. The Baer's Clothing Store has been a landmark on Sonora's main street for nearly 150 years, closing its doors in 1995.
"What became a family business, was started in 1851 when Meyer Baer arrived here from his native home in Hamburg, Germany and found the town teeming with population–a tent city–on the site upon which Sonora was permanently built. A glance told him that it was not more miners that were wanted, but more businessmen to supply their needs. He opened a crockery shop in a temporary structure on the west side of the street next to the creek. It was his misfortune that when the miners came to town on weekends and got drunk, they became rowdy and broke up his crockery. While preparing to renew his crockery stock, the big fire of 1852 laid the town in ashes. Mr Baer then went into the men's clothing business and after a few different locations settled in 1926 with his son Julius in the "new store." "Baer's was the oldest men's clothing store in California and the second oldest customer of Levi Strauss." Of "Baer's Elegant New Store," The Union Democrat wrote; "Setting a new mark for beauty, convenience and service Baer's new store, in it's arrangement, design and construction is one of the most modern establishments of it's kind in the state's interior and prosperity – that carries the commercial fame of Sonora all over California." "In appearance the display windows are striking and spacious. French beveled plate glass has been used throughout in their construction. This beautiful material has been set in copper and the unobstructed view of the interior discloses oak flooring, set off by buff background in the walls... The whole store can be flooded with light from the direct lighting arrangement." |
Board of Directors
The Aloft Gallery is managed by a volunteer Board of Directors.
Operations Director: Lorna Hunt
Secretary, Director: Allison Blansit
Display Directors: Kate Frederick
Finance Directors: Yvonne Kearney, Tom Niederer
Publicity Directors: Open
Building Maintenance Director: Justin Page
The Aloft Gallery is managed by a volunteer Board of Directors.
Operations Director: Lorna Hunt
Secretary, Director: Allison Blansit
Display Directors: Kate Frederick
Finance Directors: Yvonne Kearney, Tom Niederer
Publicity Directors: Open
Building Maintenance Director: Justin Page
All images presented throughout this site are © The Aloft Gallery and the respective owners/artists. Reproduction of any of the images is prohibited without the express written consent of the respective owners.