It’s the arts group’s third move since it left the Old Fire Hall last year, but the Jasper Artists Guild is making its new space work.
John Ward is a member of the guild, and curator of the new space above SnowDome coffee bar. On Oct. 21 he worked with several members to put the finishing touches on the gallery.
He has wide, sincere eyes and a thoughtful voice. As he talked about JAG, members occasionally interrupted, suggesting where to hang a print, or what to do with a sculpture.
He said the guild is excited by the new space, especially since SnowDome owner Shelly Koebel is letting them stay for free.
Tapestry-like pieces dangle from the rafters, and the walls are ringed with wire displays covered in art.
With exposed piping snaking along the ceiling, and concrete walls and floors, Ward said the new gallery already feels like a place where art will “thrive.”
They’ve named the new space the “Hangout Gallery,” and have scattered tables and chairs throughout. Ward plans for the guild’s artists to be around often, working on their art and chatting with visitors.
“Developing more of a social function,” he said, is a big priority during the two or three months the guild occupies the space.
Ward said the move is an opportunity for the guild to make a big push to engage the wider community over the next couple of months—letting them know the guild hasn’t gone away.
The guild wants the gallery to be a place people stop by just to hang out. “Grab a cup of coffee and come chill,” he said.
“This is more than a gallery, it’s a place to come and hang out with artists.”
Ward’s planning on starting a monthly movie night featuring films shot in Jasper, and he’s even hoping to have performance art in the centre.
“We want to develop a thought that once a month this community can come out to the art gallery and have something,” he said.
Since JAG left its home in the Old Fire Hall a year ago, it has had to “return to our roots,” moving storefront to storefront, said Ward.
It spent months jumping around and then set up the Clocktower Gallery on Connaught Drive, across from Mountain Air, for the summer.
This bouncing around is hard, said Ward, because it’s difficult to maintain a high profile when the gallery is constantly moving. It’s especially challenging because there is no way to know when the new gallery space in the library and cultural centre will be completed.
And even when the not-for-profit can move into its new space, that won’t solve all of its problems. It will have to pony up a lot of cash to pay for equipment, and rent won’t be cheap.
“Our challenge is to get people to go to the new art gallery—and that’s why the social function of [The Hangout Gallery] is so important,” said Ward.
The gallery is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the afternoons and any other time a member is there. Ward said JAG’s plans are “up in the air” for when it has to leave the Hangout, but he encourages everyone to drop by and enjoy the gallery while it’s there.
Trevor Nichols
[email protected]
