Write the world from downtown Astoria with an impressive array of note cards, stationery and free postage just not around Christmas. Take in Astorian Jennifer Goodenbergers dark but colorful appliqué textile wall hangings or Los Angeles native Angela Rossis abstract royalty portraits with animal heads.

Local artists Charlotte Bruhn and Dale Clark, real-life starving artists of sorts, put their stakes into Luminari Arts earlier this month as a center for the creative, a hangout spot, a renaissance for note-writing and eventually a space for learning.

Even though its weeks old, Luminari feels like a longtime tenant. Its show floor packs in all manner or art and stationery; the walls team with hangable art; and the glass case in front of the cash register holds a collection of steampunk and other handmade jewelry.

And they want your local art, regardless of medium. Clark said Luminari regularly fields offers from local artists wanting to show there, adding the shop looks for local, Northwest art, along with a mix from the East Coast, Colorado and Los Angeles. In all, the gallery showcases about 40 different artists, split evenly between hanging pieces, jewelry and ceramics or other mediums.

Id like the public to know that if youre working on something, and you dont think that its good enough, you might be surprised, said Bruhn. She offers a loose criteria of the right fit from the unexpected for artists wanting to be shown at Luminari. We had people who brought in their Zen doodles. Theyre gorgeous. I asked, Can you fill a wall? They said I think so.

After the initial holiday rush, said Bruhn, Luminari will start classes behind a large partition near the back of the store.

Bruhn said the cyclops portrait hanging behind the front desk is named Winnifred Byrne after her great-aunt, a fashion designer and one of her other companys namesakes. It sums up what kind of art the store wants the unexpected, the edgy.

Bruhn owned Old Town Framing until Dulcye Taylor bought it seven years ago, and she plied her wares with Clark at the Astoria Sunday Market for several years. Shes quick to point out that Affordable Care Act allowed her to leave a job in Seaside mainly a means to health care coverage and pursue her passion of operating the store.

She and Clark came downtown to look at the former site of Matts Candies next to Fulios Pastaria. Pats Pantry took their original idea, and Bruhn and Clark took over the pantry.

The storefront at 1133 Commercial St. opened a decade ago as Lunar Boy Gallery with a mix of fun, warm and nostalgic artwork from the 1930s. Less an artistic theme be drawn, the location served as an Atkins diet grocery outlet before Lunar Boy.

Bruhn and Clark opened during the Second Saturday Art Walk in April with a benefit for Head Start. They plan an even bigger grand opening May 10, when during the art walk, they will feature photographer Skye McKey.

What it means

Luminari: a person who inspires or influences others, especially one prominent in a particular sphere.