Jeannine Grafton, the owner of RiverSea Gallery in Astoria, said she hasn’t seen a downturn in her business, yet.

But even if people begin to feel a stronger crunch from the economy she expects her gallery to continue doing business. It might just change.

“People try to have art in their lives,” Grafton said. “It might be at different levels.”

She said that through the last big recession, in 1980 and ’81, people changed the types of art they bought, but they still spent money on art and jewelry.

“Art is pretty necessary on many levels – it feeds your soul,” she said.

Grafton said downtown Astoria remains a vital location where people will come to shop.

She said her store hasn’t seen a downturn in business, so far.

“We won’t really be able to tell until after the election. After the election, things will smooth out – then we’ll be able to kind of see our way through,” Grafton said.

Another event, for Grafton, emphasized the importance of art.

“After the 9-11 attacks, lots of people came in and they just wanted to be in a place that was away from their everyday lives,” she said. “It was as if they were choosing the contemplation of art to get away from the news.”

Grafton said events like Spirit of the River, a benefit for Columbia Riverkeeper, or Arts Night Out, a citywide arts and music extravaganza, bring people out of their homes and bring them together as a community.

“Turn your back on a night of experiencing the news and get out!” she advised residents. She then added that when money becomes tight, people consider investing in art.

“Do you buy more shoes?” she asked. “Or do you plunk it down on something more permanent that you can contemplate?”