GRAVETTE -- D. Arthur and Lisa Wilson opened their Art and Soul Fine Art Gallery in the summer of 2019 on Main Street in Gravette and held an open house on Gravette Day last year.
With other galleries in Santa Fe, N.M., Key West, Fla., St. Augustine, Fla., Pittsburgh, Pa., Denver, Colo., and Hot Springs, and pieces of their artwork, both paintings and sculpture, displayed in galleries all over the country, they had a particular motivation to set up shop in Gravette. They wanted to locate close to their oldest son and his family who live nearby in Bentonville.
The Wilsons had started filming a television show, also named "Art and Soul," but plans for that project were put on hold because of the covid-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, they have channeled their creative talents into producing more striking pieces of artwork and have branched out into a new venture, the Heart and Soul Yoga Studio. They have set aside a back room in their gallery at 107 Main Street S.E. as a classroom and started teaching yoga classes there on Nov. 10.
Both the Wilsons have taught yoga elsewhere and Lisa has also been a dancer all her life and has taught dance classes. They have studied under famous yoga teachers, including the renowned Cecilia Rojas from Columbia, South America, whom they met in Hot Springs when she was an evacuee from Hurricane Katrina. Rojas, who has studied in India, is a well-known therapist and teacher.
Arthur and Lisa are offering beginners, gentle flow and restorative classes. The beginners class is held from 11 a.m. to noon and 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Class size is now limited to 10 students, but plans are to accept more students when covid-19 restrictions are lifted.
Lisa explained that the word "yoga" means union in Sanskrit, and the classes focus on body awareness through a series of body postures that unite the body, mind and soul. The postures, or asanas, are good exercise and the breathing patterns and meditation are calming and relaxing.
One of the students, Linda Oliphant, was quick to recommend the benefits of the classes. She enrolled in the beginners' session and says, "I haven't missed a class." Oliphant says she has problems with her back and knees and the yoga classes have helped with both.
The yoga classroom is fully furnished with mats, pillows and all equipment needed for the classes. The walls are decorated with lovely paintings of roses from Lisa's Fine Art Photography, modeled on roses that grew in the courtyard of Wilsons' former home in Santa Fe. Soft lighting adds to the relaxing atmosphere.
Although all the essentials for the class are provided, students who wish to purchase their own mats or colorful tote bags may do so at The Little Yoga Shoppe just next door to the gallery. Books about yoga, including "Meditations from the Mat, daily reflections on the path of yoga" and "Meditations on Intention and Being" are sold. Other books, including a children's book written and illustrated by Arthur, and journals are also available.
Many of the items in the shop focus on self-care and pampering oneself. With the holidays fast approaching, it is an ideal place to shop for prepackaged gift sets or purchase a basket and design one's own custom gift package. Lisa offers her one-of-a-kind personal creations, including hand-painted silk scarves and wraps. With a background in aromatherapy, she has developed a line of essential oils and designed receptacles made of geodes in which to warm them. The geodes are cut from rocks handpicked from a quarry in Brazil and rest in graceful bases designed and crafted by Arthur.
Other products available for purchase include a line of scrumptious sugar scrubs from The Pepperberry Company and several scented candles from Northern Lights Candle Company in New York. Customers may choose a variety of fragranced soaps, salves, hand soaps and lotions produced at the Los Poblanos historic inn and organic lavender farm in Los Ranchos, N.M. Other New Mexico products are energizing Taos Bakes snack bars crafted in Questa, N.M, by friends of the Wilsons who said they were seeking to develop a healthy bar that "tastes like Grandma's cookies." Customers who find it difficult to choose may purchase gift cards and let the recipients make their own selections.
The Wilsons plan to start "The Hokey-Pokey Yogis" classes for kids and their moms in the late spring or summer. They also hope to hold some one-day or weekend workshops featuring well-known yoga teachers. They are on the road this week showcasing their works in other locations. Lisa is the featured artist in the Christmas show at the Phillip Anthony Signature Gallery in St. Augustine, Fla. Their gallery will reopen Wednesday, Dec. 9, with open hours from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday from Dec. 9 through 23. Yoga classes will resume Thursday evening, Dec. 10, at 5:30 p.m.
Arthur and Lisa invite everyone in the area to come in and meet them and Gracie, their mini Schnauzer mix. For more information, interested persons can contact the Wilsons by calling 501-520-7419.
