Sapphire Gallery opens in Carrington; fine art for sale, framing services

Following just over two years of operation in Jamestown, Sapphire Gallery, owned by Jill Edinger, has made the move north to Carrington.

A fine art studio featuring original work by Edinger along with picture framing services, Sapphire Gallery opened its doors this past Monday, August 8, at the former Junk in the Trunk location on the northeast corner of the Highways 52-200/281 roundabout between DJ's Home Center and Designer Fabrics.

She decided to relocate her business to Carrington when she elected not to renew her office space lease at 109 1st St. W. in Jamestown.

"I just wanted to get closer to home," she says. "With all the driving I had to do and the gas prices what they are, it was an easy decision."

Edinger has lived in Carrington for 15 years with her husband, Mark. They lived on the Edinger family farm located 15 miles west of New Rockford before that as the fourth generation to till the land, and operated a petting zoo and gift shop there that drew visitors of all ages.

When she began in Jamestown, she was set to open Sapphire Gallery in March 2020, before the COVID-19 shutdown put those plans on the shelf and the future of her venture in doubt. Edinger had operated her own freelance photography business for two years prior, and does to this day.

The chance closure of another custom frame shop and liquidation of that business's inventory was a stroke of luck for Edinger at the exact perfect time.

"My gallery still hadn't opened, and I was paying rent, yet not generating revenue," she explained in an interview in December of last year with Connect, a newsletter published by the Professional Picture Framers Association (PPFA).

An avid photographer, Edinger gained interest in framing as a result of that passion.

"I've always had an interest in nature and would pore over my dad's wildlife magazines, as well as National Geographic when I was growing up," she said.

Her purchase of a Canon DSLR (digital single-lens reflex) camera from a friend several years back accelerated Edinger's pursuits of a new career.

"It was 'love at first click,' and I'm now on my fourth camera body and have invested in lenses that get me closer to wildlife," Edinger said. "Any day I can get out with my camera is a good day."

One of her favorite places to shoot is White Horse Hill National Game Preserve, just outside of St. Michael on the Spirit Lake Reservation.

A particularly great shoot for Edinger happened when a bull elk was walking through the trees, and a passing driver told Mark that another one was in sight several yards up the road.

"So I turned around and could see him - with his 7x7 rack - in the distance. He was incredible, and had his harem and several calves with him, in a pond. I captured the herd running through the water with the sun behind them. I think I was squealing with excitement the entire time."

Mark has been part of his wife's and Sapphire Gallery's triumphs the whole way, having battled cancer for over seven years and still fighting the fight. They just celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary this past February.

"The gallery was going to be my part-time distraction from that life reality," said Jill. "It's a journey I wish on no one, but I'm very thankful to have this opportunity to be my own boss and have the flexibility to take time off to be with him for doctor appointments, and treatments."

They have two children, daughter Marley Zachmann, a physical therapist in Bismarck married to her husband, Travis, and mom to Mark and Jill's grandchildren, Eve and Brody. Their son, Matt, works as a utility locator, and has served in the National Guard for 14 years.

Edinger's work has been showcased at the Bismarck Street Fair, Sheyenne Valley Arts and Crafts Association (SVACA) events, and Pride of Dakota, and she has also had entries in the North Dakota Watchable Wildlife Photo Contest.

Services offered at Sapphire Gallery include custom framing, glass cutting and replacement, and photo printing to sizes up to 17" x 22". Additional artists' work is also for sale on consignment, of which include painters, woodworkers, glass artists, jewelry creators, authors, and prints from other photographers.

To contact Edinger at the gallery, call (701) 302-0234 or e-mail [email protected].

(Editor's Note: Additional information for this article was sourced from the December 2021 issue of Connect.)