When Ruth Burke opened the Seaside Gallery in the newly promoted area of "Old Seabrook" in 1989, the Kemah Boardwalk development was just a vision on the horizon. Seabrook was primarily a close knit residential community located in shadows of NASA and Houston. It offered a relaxed seaside lifestyle with major attractions and amenities nearby. Opening a retail location in an area that was primarily residential was a challenge for Ruth. As she would say "To most who traveled down NASA Rd. 1 from the I-45 corridor, the world would end at Highway 146". What she meant is that few people would venture past the intersection of Nasa Rd. I and Highway 146 where the road turned into Second Street in Old Seabrook and ended at Galveston Bay.
It was on this road that she opened her first gallery at 1105 Second Street fronting the Back Bay and overlooking Galveston Bay. This former home and real estate office of Mrs. "Mimi" Harrel was transformed into an art gallery and picture framing studio downstairs and a framing workshop upstairs. For 10 years Ruth operated out of this location and then in 1999 she moved uptown to 204 Kirby, 1 block off NASA Parkway in the neighboring village of Taylor Lake.
Locating in an established shopping center with Robinette Caterers, English Rose Florist and a Hair Salon has proved to be very successful. As you enter the store a gallery of Ruth's art photography welcomes you. Walk down memory lane with historic photographs from Kemah and Seabrook. You can also visit places like Santorini, Greece, Sicily, Venice, Barcelona, Spain or San Cristobol de las casis Chiapas, Mexico through the photography of Ruth Burke. These captured images will make you feel like you can reach out and touch the tightly composed subjects that transcend you through space and time.
Custom picture framing is a primary service that the Seaside Gallery has offered from the very beginning. They perform all of the work at the store location. Ruth or her professional framer assistants always help the customers make the right and best selections to protect and display their items brought in for framing. Ruth's policy is that the customer should be assisted by an experienced picture framer assuring that the piece is framed correctly from design to fitting. This policy has proven successful for the Seaside Gallery. They enjoy making the custom framing experience enjoyable and rewarding for all involved.
