Uniquely-named gallery offers art, workspace

One local artist celebrated the grand opening of his gallery, which has been operating for about a year.

Frank Finley qualified for a grant that allowed him to purchase a press machine, where he can do prints at 32 Pair of Scissors, located at 42372 Third Ave. E., in Pablo.

Finley owns the building, which is 1,600 square feet, with about half dedicated to studio space.

The unique 32 Pair of Scissors name came about during a conversation with his sister.

“I use to do STEM work,” Finley began.

In his class, he had 32 of each piece of material.

“You can’t have scissors in school after fourth grade,” Finley noted, adding that students are supposed to have their own, as they are considered a weapon.

He was teaching in classrooms with 30 students, also training teachers as he used his own, coming to 32-count of pieces of equipment.

His sister told him, “That’s an amazing name, 32 Pair of Scissors.”

Finley concluded that because of the amount of projects that are ongoing at the gallery, “32 fits everything.”

“I’ve been doing art since I was about 10 or 11, working with my parents,” Finley, 55, said, adding that the family would make pieces for regalia.

His parents, the late Octave and Edna Finley, taught him various skills, he said.

Largely self-taught in various forms of art, Finley said the gallery has space that can be rented out.

A couple of his students from the Salish Kootenai College, where he is the cultural arts director, are currently taking Finley up on his offer to use some space, working on their projects.

Prints, smithworks and beaded creations from Finley, as well as bead work from family members, all made at 32 Pair of Scissors.