A vacant storefront in the 4600 block of Marine Avenue has recently been undergoing a makeover. It’s being transformed into a gallery space by Malaspina Art Society (MAS) for the month of August, the trial run for what to many local artists and art enthusiasts is a long overdue dream come true.
Curator Imtiaz Taj spoke of the irony of living in a community where there are so many artists but so few places to view their art. “If you live in a big city you have modern art galleries everywhere and you’re exposed to art continuously,” he said. “In Powell River you have to go to people’s homes to do that and we’re trying to create a public space where people can see what kind of talent we have.
“Powell River is an arts-based community,” he continued. “One in three is an artist of some sort in Powell River.”
Taj said he and the society envision a permanent space where the public can view a rotating collection of exhibits with admission free of charge. For now, the gallery is only temporary, but it’s a start. And like most things, it comes down to funding.
“We don’t want to do it at any expense to the taxpayers,” he said. “This is the first step of getting to that goal. We got a [BC gaming] grant for this display for one month. If it’s successful then we can apply for a grant for two months next year. And if that’s successful then we can go for the whole year.
That success depends on community attendance. On Saturday, August 4, MAS will hold an open house in the new gallery space to celebrate the community’s newest cultural centre for the visual arts. After that, the gallery will be open from 11 am to 5 pm, Tuesday through Saturday until September 1.
The space’s history is just about as eclectic as its contents come this weekend. 4690 Marine Avenue has housed everything from a pet grooming business to a stained glass shop and, going way back, even the visitor information centre.
Now, it will be home to over 50 pieces of art created by both local and out-of-town artists. MAS is also the custodian of the Powell River Permanent Collection of Fine Art, which is valued at over $75,000, and it will be included as part of the exhibit as well. The collection was founded in 1999 with a major donation of works by Ontario artist Michael Dobson and it continues to grow at a rapid rate, jumping from 24 two-dimensional works to 32 since May of this year.
“We hope this collection will become an attraction for visitors, an art education tool for the schools and general public, and a tool to promote and support artistic expression and artists in the region,” said Taj.
Saturday’s open house takes place between 5 and 8 pm. For more information, interested readers may contact Taj at 604.414.7904 or [email protected].
