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Who We Are and What
We Stand For
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As you can tell by our nifty little logo, Art of the South is
a family of Thomas Kinkade Signature Galleries. Perhaps you may be wondering
just what being a Signature Gallery means? Well, the title of Signature Gallery
indicates that our galleries carry only Thomas Kinkade art and themed products.
It also means that we are authorized to carry exclusive editions of Thom's
artwork that quite simply can be found nowhere else. The serious Kinkade
collector knows that to see the largest and most complete array of Kinkade art,
they must visit a Signature Gallery whether they are looking for Standard
Numbered Editions or the extremely rare Studio Proof.
Please do not let the exclusiveness of our galleries lead you
to think that we are snooty or so corporate that we hide behind a maze of phone
systems or fancy features that keep you from hearing a human voice when you
call. We here at Art of the South are full believers in "Southern Hospitality".
We promise that when you try and contact us, there will be no call centers on
the other end of the line nor a "fast food like" atmosphere at our galleries
when you come to visit. What you will find though, are caring and friendly people
who love to do one thing - talk about Thomas Kinkade and his works. There will
be no double speak or high pressure sales pitches; instead it will be as
comfortable as talking over apple pie at your Sunday social.
If you have been browsing our site, you may have noticed this mindset put to
practice. Even though we have a Shopping Cart on this site, we still believe
that you still deserve personal attention to detail. It is our belief that if you are truly
looking into investing in a piece of fine art then you should go into such an
acquisition knowing all of your options as well as a little bit about the image.
Each order placed on our secure server will be scrutinized by our customer
service department. Someone will make sure you are getting the product you
were intending to purchase. Whether you call or walk into one of our Art of the South galleries, you will be
paired with an Art Consultant whose main job description is to make you
happy. This Consultant will answer your questions, send any information you
request as well as help you find that perfect canvas for your home or office.
When you deal with an Art of the South gallery, its always a win win situation.
You will always be satisfied with your purchase, we
guarantee it.
Now that you know about our practices, we figure that perhaps you might want to
learn a little more about the people behind our family. It is with their faith
and toil that all of this is possible so why wait any longer? Let us introduce
you to...
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| Dave & LeeAnn Smith |
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While successfully owning and operating several ChemDry franchises in
California, Dave and his wife, Leeann, were introduced to Thom's artwork. It
was Kinkade's unique themes and use of luminescent colors that left a strong
impression with the couple causing them to consider ways to share the work
with others. So in 1994, Dave Smith started a Kinkade gallery in Morro Bay
California, one of the very first Thomas Kinkade galleries in the world. |
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Both Dave and LeeAnn with Thom at a
recent event. |
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| Jim & Linda Odom: |
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Close friends of the Smiths, Jim and Linda were enjoying the success
of Jim's real estate and construction ventures as well Linda's nursing
career when Dave called upon them to help spread the Light of Kinkade's
brushstroked message. In June of 1997, the Odoms responded by opening a
gallery in their hometown of Cleveland, Tennessee. Since that time, they
have opened eight other galleries including three in the popular tourist
city of Gatlinburg, Tennessee. |
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Here is Jim and his wife, Linda with
Thom. |
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