Creating a Conversation Between the Paintings and Myself.
—Karen Hertz-Sumnicht
Karen Hertz-Sumnicht
Born in Indianapolis, Karen began her creative practice in ceramics and drawing at the University of Chicago Lab School, later earning a BFA from St. Mary's College of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. In 1981, after teaching K-12 art in Wisconsin's Fox Cities area, she established Avenue Art & Company, a custom framing and art consulting business. In 2020, she opened Art on 3rd in the historic Stroh Block building in Sturgeon Bay's Steel Bridge Creative District. With the recent sale of the original location, she is delighted to be able to fully focus on Art on 3rd and immerse in her own painting.
A strong believer in community involvement and inclusivity, her passion is creating and maintaining a welcoming and joyful experience for artists, customers, collectors, and the occasional well-behaved (or even moderately well-behaved) dog.
Susan Eckhardt
Susan discovered her love for framing while in college and working in a gallery in Florida. She continued to frame throughout the years she was raising her three awesome children. After moving to Sturgeon Bay full time in 2019, she soon met her wonderful friend and neighbor, Karen. Amazingly, she was also in the framing business! Working together felt like an obvious and serendipitous choice, and they have enjoyed their partnership ever since.