To All of Our Sutter Street Family -- our Collectors, Artists, and Friends,

All of us at American Visions are grateful and appreciative of our many collectors and friends - and our phenomenal artists.  As the holidays approach,we have some big news for you.  After more than 12 years on Sutter Street the gallery will have to close its doors.  The landlord has offered a new lease that raises what our rent has been by more than $57,000 a year.  With those terms, we cannot provide the same great  experiences and services as before.  So, on December 31 of this year  , we will close our current location.  But as one door closes another opens - we've found a great place across the street from where we are.  It has lots of room for all our artists and even has artist studios on the second floor.

So, on January 2, 2011, we will be open at a new location in Folsom's Historic District: we will be at 705 Sutter Street, next to the Folsom Hotel, a little closer to Riley.  Our terrific staff, the ambiance, the piano, the events, and the high-quality service will not change.     

We want to invite you to the Sutter Street gallery between now and December 31 - to celebrate our years there.  We'll treat you to a glass of champagne or apple cider -- and there will be plenty of special holiday prices or gifts for anyone on your list - from your neighbor to your sweetheart.  Please come in for a last hurrah in our "old" space, to celebrate and honor the time we shared there on Saturday December 11 from 4-9pm.  We will also have complementary wine and cheese, and Aaron Johnson will be on hand to show his commemorative piece of John Lennon.   We're proud of the talent the gallery has nurtured and the many friendships the art and atmosphere have generated.  It's a family business and, thanks to you, we now have a really big family.  

In addition, our new gallery in Granite Bay is up and running at Quarry Ponds, a shopping plaza at 5540 Douglas Blvd. It's only ten minutes from Sutter Street.  We hosted dinner there for Mickey and Jan Rooney and 80 of their fans on November 5 - the art looks terrific and parking is a dream.  Our neighbors include Peet's Coffee, Hawk's Restaurant, Capitol Cellars (excellent wine), a new Pete's Brew Pub (great food) a jeweler, glassware, Source Restaurant, a spa with couples retreats, an Italian pottery shop and other upscale stores.

This week we are also unveiling our newly designed web page -www.avartgallery.com - thanks to Sage - with images of almost all the art at the gallery.  Take a look and let us know if there are specific pieces you want to see -- we'll make sure those are at the gallery nearer to you when you want to see them. There are still some little bugs to work out and a few more artists to add, but we decided to share it with you as we make these changes.

 As the new year approaches, we are excited to welcome these new changes and feel it will make us bigger, better and stronger. We look forward to sharing many more moments with you - our collectors and friends.  So, please come and see us at the 718 Sutter Street gallery during these final weeks.  We're adding new art every week, lots of gift items have arrived this month and we have freshly paved sidewalks.

With deep gratitude for all you have given my family, my staff and me. Thank You. As always, you are important to us.

Here's to a great year ahead.

 Giovanna and all the staff at American Visions

P.S. If you've enjoyed the art shows, the book signings, the concerts, the dinners with us, the wine tastings, the Godard martini nights, just coming in to enjoy the art or the company, then visit our Facebook Page and be a "friend."  We'll be posting the line up of events and special guests and we'll be posting more pictures of events we've had over the years.