Fine Crafts       American Made       Fine Arts

                                               In Memoriam

On July 24, 2021 we lost co-founder Michael G. Secrest after a long illness. He was Maria's husband, JP's and Eli's dad, and Unkle Munkle to a slew of nieces and nephews.

Michael was a graduate of the Ohio State University with a BFA in fine art. He stayed on at OSU after graduation, working in various departments of Physical Facilities before ending his career as a Union Steward with CWA. After retirement he worked at Lowe's. He was co-founder of pm gallery in 1980, the longest running gallery in the Short North Arts District. He was one of the originators of the Gallery Hop, an original participant of the DooDah Parade, and a board member of ArtReach Gallery.

As a painter he displayed his work at shows and in galleries in the Columbus area. His work was abstracted, colorful and bold, even the realistic work which portrayed autumnal colors and historic houses. It was his hope that in retirement in the South he could resume doing shows, but his health and the epidemic forestalled that desire.

At his request, his remains were “donated to science” as he felt he had benefited from the generosity of others. In that spirit donations to diabetes research would be appreciated.

He will be sorely missed.

On July 27, 2021 we also lost Sisko, our store dog of almost 10 years. He had a wonderful life, being a free range Southern dog, then a leashed and harnessed Ohio dog (who loved the snow SO MUCH but was freaked out a little by traffic) and then back to a semi-free range Southern dog. He went from being well to being very sick in one day and we could not let him suffer. He was a good boy and that would have been bad for everyone. He is now at rest under the hill marked with a stone that says WELCOME YOU ALL, a stepping stone left over from my grandparents' summer camp. I think that is completely appropriate.