There would have been a time in her life when Adrienne Stein questioned it.

But after the artist rented a billboard along a busy interstate to display her work, she doesn't wonder why the Framers and Framers Gallery in Springettsbury Township hangs art on the outside of its 19th century building.

"It's a democratic way of showing art to people who may not feel comfortable walking into a gallery," she said. "I like that it makes fine art more accessible to a broad range of people."

Co-owner Dave Jacobs said he hangs the pieces to give people an idea of what's inside.

"We're York's only drive-by gallery," he said.

It's also a gallery that's growing.

He and his wife, Shelly, who co-owns the gallery with him, have spent the last several months renovating the space. They've installed new steps and expanded the second floor to include a gift shop and display area in their historic facility, which was a grain mill during the 1800s.

Those renovations will be revealed and celebrated during a grand opening from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday.

Featured artists Stein, Carol Oldenburg and Michael Fickes will be on hand for a meet-and-greet during the event.

Stein, an East York native who is pursuing a master of fine arts degree at Boston University, will be showing four originals, as well as a group of prints and paintings from the past.

She's looking forward to working with the Jacobses because they are both "really passionate," she said.

"They really love to personally connect with their artists. They're in a building that has been part of the York County fabric while representing local artists from York County. It has a very regional flavor," she said.

The owners are also eager to learn. Dave and Shelly Jacobs bought Framers in November 2010, though it has been operating at its 3780 E. Market St. address since 1977.

"When we bought it, we didn't really know too much about art, and we didn't really know anything about framing either. We've been learning along the way, and our goal is to help promote local artists as well as we can," he said.

Dave Jacobs has a background in sales, and his wife is a stay-at-home mom who now works at the gallery part-time. But both are committed to helping the local art scene flourish, he said.

"We take less commission than other galleries probably do because we do a lot of framing services," he said.

Something else that helps highlight Framers is its historic charm, according to Oldenburg, who is this week showing her art there for the first time.

"It's rustic as opposed to a finished, white-wall gallery," she said.

Oldenburg will be showing oil paintings and some pastels, featuring garden florals and landscape work, she said.

She's shown her work in York City galleries as well and said the local scene is growing.

"It really seems to be expanding. There are more venues for artists. It's a real grassroots movement," she said.

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About the event

---Grand opening celebration for Framers and Framers Gallery

---5 to 9 p.m. Friday

---3780 E. Market St., Springettsbury Township

---Featured artists include Adrienne Stein, Carol Oldenburg and Michael Fickes.

---For more information, call 757-1764.

-- Candy Woodall can also be reached at cwoodall@yorkdispatch.com.