Seven and seven could be lucky for the Gibsons Public Art Gallery (GPAG).
The volunteer run organization is in its seventh year and has consistently produced at least seven local artist exhibitions each year. (Last year they squeezed in eight.)
The gallery has developed a reputation for hosting shows that are a bit, well different.
Last January, a show by Gambier artist Carol Whittaker entitled Water-shed was sponsored by a Coast eco energy business, and the sponsor was also invited to make a presentation that tied in with the art on display.
Last September, the public began lining up on the street long before the start time for an artists' reception. The show, Come to Dinner, featured the work of potters Elaine Futterman and Michael Allegretti. The couple's stoneware dishes were used to serve appetizers donated by 11 restaurant and café sponsors. Bruschetta and a beverage along with the art made for a full house in the small gallery off Gower Point Road.
There's plenty more planned for 2010.
Patricia Drope, past president of the gallery, and the woman who has put much energy into its evolution, is pleased with its progress.
"I'm happy with the success of the jurying process," she said.
They use a curatorial jury comprised of two artists, two board members and two from the community. After the opening show with artist Todd Clark, they will host Words & Image, a collaboration with the Gibsons Public Library. Artists in any medium may submit as long as words are included in the art. Words & Image opens March 11 with a submission deadline of Feb. 15. In conjunction with this show, authors will be invited to speak about, or read from, their writing. Also in March, board member Joanna MacKenzie-Enga will be curating a new exhibition of young people's art called Shout Out!
The gallery has opened to the community by offering classes for kids and the first annual art stroll among the many galleries in Gibsons.
"Visitors to the town are impressed," said Drope. "We've got this energy and commitment."
What's lacking is space and money. Drope would like to see more financial stability for the organization and a more accessible space.
"We're aware people cannot manage the stairs, and we've lost volunteers that way," adds Drope.
Drope hastens to add that they love the support they get from the building owners, John de Kleer and Dr. Janet Webb; it's just that a bigger, street level gallery would also offer the necessary temperature control to host a permanent art collection a goal for the future.
Currently the gallery consists of one large room and a smaller Harbourview Room that received a recent renovation from GPAG president Rod Olafson, new vice president and photographer Paul Clancy and a crew of volunteer painters. The removal of a partition window doubled the available wall space and the smaller room continues to run its own shows.
Olafson has served on the board for nearly three years. He wants to broaden support in the community for the gallery.
"I see us as a valuable resource for the area," he said. "Maybe we would do more kids' programs because when kids come, parents come too. Also we'd like to offer more to the artists, maybe through curating seminars or special exhibitions."
Olafson is also concerned for the financial security of the gallery. Though local governments and other organizations have been generous, funding is never assured.
"Finding sponsors make a huge difference," he said.
Coming soon in the Harbourview Room will be good quality photo representations from Gibsons' artist Patricia Richardson Logie of her Chronicles of Pride collection that was donated to the University of British Columbia library in November.
The feature exhibition is an invitational show by artist Todd Clark which runs until March 8. Clark is a self-taught artist who paints his interpretive landscapes and vivid abstracts in oil on canvas and board. The artist's reception is on Friday, Jan. 15, from 6 to 8 p.m. More details at www.gibsonspublicartgallery.ca.
