By Mary Voelz Chandler
Rocky Mountain News

February 28th, 2008

William and Jan van Straaten, who've operated the respected publishing house Riverhouse Editions in Steamboat Springs for 20 years, have purchased the Sandy Carson Gallery and The Carson Group Art Consultants.

The announcement today signals a new player in Denver's art market.

Carson has operated a gallery and consulted here for 33 years. She and gallery director William Biety will remain there, and the gallery for now will keep its name. The show schedule will run as planned through the fall, when the first show of the combined operations is planned.

Neither party would disclose the sale price, but it includes the gallery, the gallery building at 760 Santa Fe Drive, the consulting firm and a small house behind. Riverhouse will continue to operate in Steamboat.

But Carson and William van Straaten both characterized the transaction as a quick one.

"It was whirlwind," said Carson. "They were looking for a place here. I think it will be a breath of fresh air for the community. After 33 years, it's wonderful for us."

From New York, where he and Jan van Straaten are attending a print fair, William van Straaten said talks began Feb. 7, and the deal closed eight days later.

"It's absolutely unlimited what we can do," he said. "We were looking for a house and we bought a gallery."