They say you get what you give. Yet it’s Jay Hill who received the most from a simple gift to his parents in 1976. That’s when he turned a hobby into a 35-year-old custom framing business in Newburgh, Ind., with his wife, Norma.
Riverwind Gallery is one of the largest art and custom framing galleries in Indiana. Offering roughly 3,000 square feet of display space, the gallery located at 10400 Indiana 662 (also known as Newburgh Road) sells thousands of framed and unframed art pieces on site and through its online store.
Jay started framing when he couldn’t find affordable frames for an art piece for his parents. “After purchasing picture frame molding and all the tools, glass, and mat board to frame it with, he was ready to go,” Norma says.
He learned on the job, practicing by framing for family and friends from his home. In 1979, Jay left his job in pharmaceutical sales and rented space to continue custom framing. “The introduction of art followed the framing as more and more customers began asking for art in their homes,” Jay says.
Now the business is a lifestyle for the couple. Along with framed and unframed works, Riverwind sells a variety of artwork ranging from original paintings to posters, pottery, and hand-painted gourds.
Jay and Norma host shows for local, national, and international artists and use the art shows to support charitable organizations like the Evansville Dance Theatre, Youth First, the Warrick County Humane Society. They also host an annual Newburgh Plein Air Paint Out.
The Hills attend seminars and work closely with contemporary national artists like Bev Doolittle and James Christensen. “It’s fun to have so many different styles and different artists from whimsical to camera realistic, and everything in between,” Norma says. “Many people tell us how happy they are with the quality and creative framing we offer.”
For more information on Riverwind Gallery, call 812-853-2537 or visit riverwindgalleryart.com.
