BISBEE, AZ – Bisbee is growing and so is the SAMPOE Gallery. Opened in September of 2006 in a converted car mechanic’s garage across from the iconic Iron Man statue, this delightful open-air gallery has quickly outgrown its space and is moving to the historic Letson Block at 24 Main Street. The artists, husband and wife, Poe Dismuke and Sam Woolcott, are making final preparations for the move that will take place – just in time for the holidays. The walls are painted – ready for hanging artwork – and the flooring and electric should be completed by the end of this week.

The newly remodeled and upgraded gallery space will feature twice the amount of floor and wall space than the original  digs plus it will be more convenient for visitors to the historic district. “We are excited to be a part of the thriving downtown,” says Sam of the new location. Long, unbroken walls will be able to accommodate larger pieces of artwork while spacious enough for a visitor to step back, relax and appreciate each piece individually or as a series.

Most galleries have so many artists and hang so much work that it is difficult to get a sense of who the artist is and what the artist is doing. With the SAMPOE Gallery featuring just the two artists’ work, a person can really get a sense of what each artist is communicating through their work because there will be room for a series of in-depth pieces, not just one or two samples. “The making of art and the marketing of art require such different skills but I think this new space may be inspiring to both,” says Sam.

Expansive walls and lots of open space will showcase Sam’s paintings, drawings and prints, inspired by  Bisbee’s architectural idiosyncrasies. Her fresh use of color and perspective capture the lively spirit of the town where fortified stone walls, steep staircases and hundred-year-old miners’ cabins lend themselves to a near-abstract interpretation.

Poe’s work defies easy categorization. His kinetic sculptures and tabletop contraptions are part of a world where tipping ducks, yakking crows and disappearing mice co-exist happily. These mechanical marvels, ingeniously constructed from common materials, have the nostalgic appeal of well-loved toys.

Although uniquely diverse in their style and use of materials, their artwork goes well together because both are bold and inventive. The new gallery space can be customized to show intimate work or accommodate a life-size donkey made of bedsprings or a six-foot drawing on canvas.

Come check out new and unique one-of-a-kind works by Sam and Poe – pieces they have specifically created for the new gallery space! Gallery hours are 10:00 a.m. until at least 6:00 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and the telephone number is 520-432-5338. Located at 24 Main Street in Old Bisbee, the SAMPOE Gallery’s new location in the Letson Block is right below the Letson Loft Hotel which underwent an 8-month restoration and opened in the summer of 2006. Composed of two buildings, the Letson Block is thought to have been constructed between 1883 and 1888 and these are recognized as the oldest brick structures in the city and the only authentic Victorian buildings in Bisbee. Locals remember this building as the home of the popular Wallace’s Pool Hall.