After a stack of pancakes at Sunset Grill; the cafe which likes to provide some culture with its cholesterol, we headed off downtown for our first meeting with the director of Gallery 44, Lise Beaudry.
Boxes of information about former shows in the basement of Gallery 44 and the rooftop terrace.
The gallery is situated in a former industrial building which houses several other galleries, artist studios, shops, a cafe, a crèche and a beautiful rooftop garden.
Gallery 44 is an artist-run centre for contemporary photography, which was set up around 30 years ago by a group of photographers who needed access to darkroom facilities. It includes a gallery space, office and darkrooms which are used by its members. The gallery, which is run by a board of directors and 4 staff has approximately 160 members, who pay an annual fee of either $150 , which allows 24 hour access to the facilities, or $75 for use during gallery hours only.
The gallery also runs an extensive outreach and education programme, which includes photography workshops and a summer camp for young people and professional development sessions for artists. The gallery also works closely with a number of schools in the city.
Funding comes mainly from city, state and provincial sources. The gallery also holds fund-raising events and the education programme is funded through additional sources.
We discovered that until this year, Lise also jointly ran an annual festival called Alley Jaunt. Running over 5 years, the festival opened up garages, which run along some of the city alley ways, as venues for new work by local artists.
Gallery 44 is an artist-run centre for contemporary photography, which was set up around 30 years ago by a group of photographers who needed access to darkroom facilities. It includes a gallery space, office and darkrooms which are used by its members. The gallery, which is run by a board of directors and 4 staff has approximately 160 members, who pay an annual fee of either $150 , which allows 24 hour access to the facilities, or $75 for use during gallery hours only.
The gallery also runs an extensive outreach and education programme, which includes photography workshops and a summer camp for young people and professional development sessions for artists. The gallery also works closely with a number of schools in the city.
Funding comes mainly from city, state and provincial sources. The gallery also holds fund-raising events and the education programme is funded through additional sources.
We discovered that until this year, Lise also jointly ran an annual festival called Alley Jaunt. Running over 5 years, the festival opened up garages, which run along some of the city alley ways, as venues for new work by local artists.
Rebecca and Robina enjoying a well-deserved lunch
After a well-deserved lunch on the rooftop, we visited other exhibitions in the building at Open Studio and A Space.
We walked back to Coxwell in the Canadian sun via China town, where Robina bought a mini maple leaf tankard, the same colour as her kitchen, Rebecca picked a dandelion for her project and Elaine got sunburnt. Not bad for a day's work!
After a well-deserved lunch on the rooftop, we visited other exhibitions in the building at Open Studio and A Space.
We walked back to Coxwell in the Canadian sun via China town, where Robina bought a mini maple leaf tankard, the same colour as her kitchen, Rebecca picked a dandelion for her project and Elaine got sunburnt. Not bad for a day's work!
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