Happy art has wide appeal during pandemic

Patti Durkee is in her happy place every morning when she enters Hubert and Belle's Art and Decor, which is tucked away in the rear of her Victorian home in Port Maitland, Yarmouth County.

“I sell happy art,” Durkee said during a recent interview while describing the trove of eclectic art pieces surrounding her in the gallery. “I have a lot of folk art because I find folk art is fun. It's colourful. Its bright art that when you look at it makes you smile.”

“I have to love it,” she said, “or I won't sell it.”

The offerings of happy art at Hubert and Belle's are making a lot of people smile these days.

Durkee's formula for choosing art to showcase is appealing to art enthusiasts a long way from the quiet shores of Port Maitland.

Instead of sales dropping off as pandemic restrictions negatively impacted the economy beginning in early 2020, Hubert and Belle's, named after Durkee's parents, has received more orders than expected through the gallery's Facebook and Instagram presence. And the online presence has drawn visitors to the gallery.

“I was positively thrilled,” Durkee said. “I consider that I have been extremely fortunate. It was totally unexpected.

“I don't know if I would have survived if I had to pay rent every month because it's gone in waves. Some months are way better than others. But year to year every month has been better than the previous year. My business has tripled,” she said.

“People are seeing my Instagram and they are sending me messages. I'm shipping across Nova Scotia and to the States as well. So, I think that online presence is extremely important.”

“My business has clearly increased because people from other parts of the province, the region and Ontario and Quebec are finding me and coming to my shop. And people from Ontario moving into the area are decorating their new homes,” Durkee said.

“I think a big part of it was getting the word out there.”

Durkee has offered art buyers works by Sydney artist David Stephens since the gallery opened in 2015. Stephens, who creates art using a variety of mediums, credits Durkee's online savvy with sparking the sales boom.

"I believe it's the fact that she is putting the work out there and letting people know what she has,” Stephens said. “She is promoting the work and promoting the artists. And she has a rather eclectic selection of work available for people to choose from."

Stephens said Durkee's success is having a positive effect on his business.

“Anything she happens to sell helps me out as well and not just financially. I enjoy getting my work out there and sharing it with a broader audience,” Stephens said.

“You will see bright and colorful paintings,” Durkee said, describing the Nova Scotia-themed art surrounding her in the gallery.

“I have a beautiful eagle and a whale. I have farm animals and carvings of lobsters and cats, chickens and pigs, seagulls, and even Santas. I have colorful pottery and Nova Scotia themed prints of fish and flowers with brightly painted leaves.”

“I see beautiful objects,” she said. “When I walk in it makes me feel good because it is a nice place to spend time. It's not work to me. It's fun, it's play. It's enjoyable,” Durkee said.

“I need things around me that make me feel good. We need happiness. We need something that is going to give us a boost when we look at it.”

“I firmly believe that the art we put on our walls or sculpture we have in

our homes should be really positive and fun to look at and when you look at it, it will bring a smile to your face,” Durkee said.

She said people are spending money on home decor instead of trips because of travel restrictions.

“We have been stuck at home. And people are spending so much time in their homes that they want to be happy in their own place. They want to have their happy place. Their paradise. People are spending money on their homes,” she said.

Valley woodcarver Pat Ryerson has seen over 50 of her carved Santas sold during the uptick in sales. Ryerson said the colourful Santas seem to remind people of their childhood Christmas experiences.

“You can’t go anywhere (during the pandemic). So, it’s best to get art that you look at and enjoy,” Ryerson said.

Marla Benton is a ceramic artist in Mahone Bay. She said she has been kept busy creating functional ceramic art pieces to help Durkee fill her orders.

“I feel that I just can’t keep up with her requests. I’m delivering work she asked for in August. I’m so grateful she is willing to be patient,” Benton said.

“It’s great people are thinking about art and craft and seeking it out for the purpose of happiness. I feel very supported by Patti. And I feel that I am supporting her as well. It’s a feel-good connection for me.”

“We have a lot of extremely talented artists in Nova Scotia. You don’t have to go far to find someone who does amazing work,” Durkee said.

“When you support a gallery then you support an artist, and everybody needs to survive.”

More information is available at:

www.hubertandbelle.com.