Five years ago Janet Bocast, a local painter of abstracts, was inspired to invite seven energetic local artists to help create a gallery in Ashland to showcase Rogue Valley artists.

Dodie Hamilton was elected Chairman of the Board, and twenty-some men and women artists were juried in. Staffed by participating artists, their aesthetic expertise is available to all who visit Art & Soul Gallery. Every artist involved contributes toward maintaining the high quality and integrity of the gallery.
Art & Soul is proud of the diversity of media, styles of creativity and choices of subject matter that this group of local artists brings to Ashland. Buyers from all over the country have purchased art work there, for their homes and businesses.
In addition to original works, a limited number of giclée prints of selected local art can be purchased at the gallery.

The philosophy of Art & Soul Gallery is expressed in its Mission Statement:
The Art and Soul Gallery has as its primary purpose the goal of providing an attractive and profitable opportunity and space for local artists to display and sell their work.

As an adjunct to this goal it will maintain an organized system for making such sales, a pleasant atmosphere for artists and public to meet, and provide publicity for member artists.

The gallery also encourages education in the arts by providing a classroom space for interested teachers, and fosters and encourages an active involvement with the art community of the Rogue Valley as well as other areas of the state and country.