If you’ve had the chance to shop at City Plaza recently you may have noticed a brand new shop has taken shape between Yor Home Medical and the Drivers License location. WaterMark Art Gallery and Gifts is owned and operated by Mark Hale, someone new to the Devils Lake area.

Hale, originally from Detroit, MI, was a pastor for several years – more than 30 years in ministry – in various locations, most recently 17 years in Grand Forks where he was part of the founding of the Thrive church located in the former Sears/K-Mart mall off South Washington.

Ready for a change, the Hales purchased a 110 year old house in Penn, ND, and a 128 year old church nearby. The plan is to renovate both the house and the church with the hopes of living in one, maybe eventually the church building, and turning the other into something like an AirB&B. Meanwhile Mark has become a chaplain for Hospice locally, too, continuing his work of ministry and caring for those in need.

Hale is married and has four children, all grown, and has one grandbaby.

Making the Lake Region their home, now, they found a space in City Plaza on the Highway 2 corridor in Devils Lake to create a gift shop and art gallery to sell his own paintings and the creations of other artists from around the region. In the last few months he’s collected quite a variety of artists and artisans to provide items on consignment for display and sale to the public. You’ll find jewelry, knitted items, rugs woven on a loom, woodworking, framed photography, original artwork, gift items ranging from $10 to $2,300 and soon some of the most interesting and beautifully decorated rocks you’ve ever seen!

WaterMark Art Gallery & Gifts is “Where Art Speaks” according to its owner. The store is open now, however, his work with Hospice makes regular hours difficult sometimes, so if he’s not there, stop back another time. Their Grand Opening will take place Feb. 7 & 8 – over Superbowl weekend. They will be open Friday, Feb. 7 from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Saturday, the 8th from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Stop in and meet the area’s newest artist and entrepreneur, Mark Hale. Normal hours for the shop will be 11 a.m. – 3 or 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, except when Hospice needs calls him away.