SoOh Spotlight: Craig Galentine of Temple7e

Craig Galentine of Temple7e is a Dayton, OH based artist who creates The Kokeshi Clan series, a collection of original hand-painted Kokeshi dolls. These unique, eastern inspired dolls are quite mesmerizing. I spent a good hour or so looking through his etsy shop oo-ing and aww-ing at the amount of detail on each doll and their uncanny resemblance to pop culture icons. He also creates original designs as well as custom dolls for weddings and families. He is a very talented artist who is heavily involved in the Dayton art and music scene and I'm glad to be spotlighting him today.

Tell me a little about your shop and what you sell

My Etsy shop is called Temple7e and I sell custom, hand painted Kokeshi Dolls and original artwork. My line of dolls is known as The Kokeshi Clan.


What is your process when you create items for your shop?

My process for creating items is fairly simple, I just create things that I would like to see. I have always had a love of Eastern aesthetics, art and philosophy which I think that comes across in my work. I like to keep things simple. My personal love of all things Ninja, Geisha, and Sci-fi and zen is well represented throughout my body of work.

What part of Southern Ohio do you live in and how long have you been here?

I live in Dayton, Ohio and I have lived here my entire life, 37 years.

You've mentioned that you are active in the underground art and music scene in Dayton. What are some exciting things that are happening right now?

There are a lot of cool things going on in the Dayton Art scene right now and there are many talented artists in the area. 4frnt studios located at the Front St. Bldg. is a favorite spot of mine. They host local art shows that are always filled with amazing pieces from local talent. The newly opened Grass Roots center in the Oregon district has an Art Gallery on its second floor which will be hosting a Kokeshi Clan exhibit for the first Friday in September.

What are your top 3 favorite places to eat in Southern Ohio?
My favorite place to eat in the area is Amar India. Their food is heavenly. I also like Thai 9 and Middle Eastern Deli for their Falafel sandwiches and Hummus. As you can see, I love spicy vegetarian food. All three of these restaurants are in the Dayton area.

 
What are your top 3 favorite go to events in Southern Ohio?

I don't really have a top 3 regular events. I more or less go with the flow and tend to gravitate toward events featuring local bands or local art openings.


What are your top 3 favorite places to shop/thrift in Southern Ohio?

I'm not really a big shopper, but a couple of my favorite local businesses are TAF, which sells rare and collectible action figures and toys. Urban Handmade is a really cool spot with consignments from local artists in Yellow Springs. There are a few cool shops in the Oregon District as well as Press coffee bar which supports local artists.

Anything else you would like to share about yourself, your shop or Southern Ohio?

I would just like to thank everyone who has supported the Kokeshi Clan and myself. Thank you to all of the artists and musicians who continue to create and inspire and all of the collectors who keep me in business and allow me to continue living the dream. Finally, I would like to thank you for this awesome opportunity and your support of the Kokeshi Clan as well as Southwest Ohio in general.