Reopening Summer 2021!
The doors of the Grand Manan Art Gallery were closed in 2020 due to health concerns related to the Covid-19 pandemic, but we created three virtual galleries that provided Gallery members, friends and others with opportunities to view artwork, and to purchase great art at very reasonable prices. Our first virtual gallery called Lure of the Sea, opened on May 29, and featured the work of Saint John artist Dale Cook. The popular Island Art and Artisans’ Show opened on July 1, and the Square Foot Show went online on August 1. All of these galleries remained online until December 31, 2020.
Our virtual galleries received good reviews, but viewing a work of art on a computer screen is not as satisfying as seeing the actual piece hanging on a gallery wall, and we are anxious to reopen our gallery next June. Although the second wave of the Covid pandemic will hopefully be coming to and end by then, it seems likely that we will still be required to follow procedures such as masking, hand sanitizing, collection of contact information, one-way traffic flow through the gallery, and social distancing that will help to ensure the safety of both our visitors and our volunteers.
Despite the challenges, it is our expectation that we will have a spectacular season in 2021. We will be pleased to exhibit the work of Roger Gilman, Charlie Savedoff, Dale Cook, Kelly Joyce-Floyd, Morag Walsh, M.J. Edwards, John O’Donnell, and Stewart Stein. All these artists were scheduled to show their work at the Gallery last summer. In addition, three new artists (Helen Shideler, Kataryna Kryvolap and Adrienne Guptill) will be showing with us in 2021, and Sara Griffin will be organizing an exhibition of work by Grand Manan Community School students for our first show of the season.
Our three virtual galleries in 2020 gave us some useful experience in creating online displays. We are hoping that in addition to hanging the 2021 shows on our Gallery walls, we will also be able to put all of our exhibits on line. This will provide increased exposure for our artists, and opportunities for people who may not be able to visit the Gallery to enjoy the work that we will be exhibiting.
As we prepare for the 2021 season, we will be very grateful for the continuing support of our members and friends. Gallery memberships for 2021 can now be renewed by e-transfer (gmag2121@gmail.com), or by cheque made payable to the Gallery, and mailed to the Treasurer, Grand Manan Art Gallery, 10 Marathon Lane, Grand Manan, NB, E5G3A3.
