On a Saturday afternoon at the Coastal Art Gallery in Sechelt’s Trail Bay Centre, artist Rose Ann Janzen is up a ladder rearranging her quirky paintings. In one, a fat cat smirks beside an oversized plant pot. Another picture features a Mexican scene. Her painting of First Tulips is on sale for the month of April as are many works from each of the 24 local artists who show their art there.
Judy Heyer shows her acrylics – flowers, birds and an eye-catching arbutus are displayed next to Vene Parnell’s popular photos of local scenes. With Sheila Weaver’s work it’s difficult to tell if it’s a painting or a photo as she does both in exquisite detail. They always include nature in its wildest form. There are several photographers exhibiting at Coastal Art, yet their subjects are all different. Colin Horabin, a new member, experiments with engaging scenes while Don Klan shows his photos on canvas or his popular art cards. Many of the artists paint local landscapes, familiar scenes that sell well.
The eclectic art of John Tesloveanu and Franca Teslo-veanu provides a few three-dimensional pieces in the gallery. John sells his walking sticks and Franca her paper and clay dolls. More pottery, woodwork or jewelry would round out the selection of art, but right now the shop is full.
Recently the gallery moved from a narrow space in the mall to a wider, brighter one. It made a huge difference. The space is not any bigger, said Coastal Art executive director Don Klan. It’s an illusion based on the wider space. They took out old wood, put up middle walls, and spent a few dollars to fix it up with better lighting.
Each of the member artists is local and they work co-operatively to cover the store shifts during hours of opening. Each person rents space in four-foot or eight-foot sections to show their work and they switch around the locations three times a year to keep it fresh. Potential members must apply to show their work to the executive who look for quality.
“We’re more demanding now,” Klan said. “All spots are taken and we have several top notch artists lining up to be part of it.”
Although some items such as the art cards are big sellers, most artists do not become wealthy through sales. “It’s a sacrifice of love for most,” Klan said. He notes that any improvements to the store were done on a shoestring budget. “We have no big backers,” he said.
Nonetheless the store shifts are filled by enthusiastic members and the gallery remains open during mall hours from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays and noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays.
