Mountainsong Galleries in Carmel survived hard times once, but not this time.

Opened in 2009, the 2,500 square-foot art gallery run by Jonathan and Lucinda Mountainsong occupies a prime spot on Carmel's Ocean Drive, one that boasted an inviting open courtyard with clear sight-lines in to its arched windows.

The Carmel couple filled the space with many different artists, working in various mediums, but hinged most of their hopes on carrying more works than anyone else of two artist organizations: the Oil Painters of America and the American Impressionist Society.

Despite putting on a flurry of high profile shows of so-called "Master Artists" from each organization, it didn't translate into the sales they needed to avoid closure. They announced this week that they are going out of business, a fate they were able to escape before, when the Great Recession siphoned income in 2009 and 2010.

"We went through this once, but we cannot do it again," they said in a statement.

Lucinda says that "Sales are back at those levels. People aren't spending money."

She says that they didn't consider moving to a smaller location because that wouldn't have remedied the lack of sales. She says the community has expressed sympathy and sadness, and that they don't know what they will do next. What would help, at this point, she says, is to sell as much of their stock, furniture, a sound system, plants and fixtures as they can before Sept. 30, when the doors are to be shuttered.

"We need the support of the community to help us liquidate what we have," they said. 

But from the ashes of one couple's dreams, another will occupy the space. Another tenant, whom Lucinda identifies as Artimas, will take over the lease starting Oct. 1. Mountainsong Galleries will be open 10am-6pm daily until the end of the month.