By Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer
The Surveyor

Kathleen Gruman poses in front of some of the original art works that hang in her new office/ art gallery located at 344 Mountain Ave. in Berthoud.
John Gardner/ The Surveyor

Kathleen Gruman, a real estate agent at Re/Max Town & Country, has always wanted to open an art gallery. So, when Re/Max was looking for additional office space for agents, she volunteered to move her office to the space next door, but she had one request; could she turn her new office space into a gallery?

The small attached building next door to Re/Max, at 344 Mountain Ave., is owned by Gary Maggi, owner of ReMax Town & Country. With Maggi’s blessing, Gruman has turned the space into Green Frog Fine Art.

“I’ve always wanted to open a gallery and thought I’d have some of my own pieces in it, but I’ve been so busy,” said Gruman. “I’ve almost got a couple new pieces done, so that’s on my to-do list.”

Gruman started painting while attending Berthoud High School (BHS). In fact, the first people to buy one of her paintings were Stu and Barbara Boyd, both were her teachers at BHS.

Marion Maggi, co-owner of Re/Max Town & Country, has been one of Gruman’s biggest supporters over the years. When Maggi was with Cottage Realty she asked Gruman to bring in some of her first paintings to put on display in the office.

“Marion is one of my biggest benefactors from way back,” said Gruman. “In fact, my largest painting, ever, is in the conference room here at Re/Max Town & Country.”

Sixteen artists are now showing at Green Frog Fine Art, and all have connections to Berthoud and Gruman. The artists represent an array of friends, clients and other community connections that she’s made over the years.

There’s a nice variety of art at Green Frog, including oil paintings, pastel paintings, photography, sculpture, metal art, floral arrangements, jewelry, blown glass and even some wood art objects.

At the end of each month, Gruman hosts a wine-and-cheese open house at the gallery and invites the artists and the public to attend. It’s been a successful way to get the word out about the gallery, and Gruman plans to continue the tradition.

“It’s great to be able to put this space to good use,” said Gary Maggi. “How do you fill 400 square feet? Well, we needed the office space and Kathleen needed the wall space, so this was a really good fit for us.”

Green Frog Fine Art is open every day when Gruman is in the office. She invites you to stop by.