Art collectives make the Valley more creative

Six female artists have banded together and call their new project Gallery 360.

Spokesperson Dale Gruchy says the cooperative has partnered with Light and Lens Photography on Main Street in Wolfville to create a new gallery space.

The six amicably splintered off the 20-member Evangeline Artists' Cooperative a few years ago and have now set up shop in the lobby of the photography studio thanks to Jason Calnen.

According to Gruchy, they are a productive, fun group who happen to love making art.

“I started out with pastels,” she says. Other members produce watercolours, paintings and jewelry. Each one was looking for a way to showcase their art.

Gruchy, who is an instructor at NSCC, polished her skills over the pandemic. Although not retired, she enjoys making art, creating new pieces and connecting with the other members of the co-op. For others, art is a second vocation.

“We're all local,” she notes. “I get immense joy from our work, but I never thought we'd be in a gallery.”

Late last summer they began hanging art in the lobby and filed the papers to start the co-op. Now, the Gallery 360 cooperative is planning an official launch party on the afternoon of Saturday, June 3 from 2-4 p.m.

“Come and meet us and have cake,” Gruchy offers.

I already own a painting of a favourite street view by co-op member Mary Anne Brunelle. It was for sale at the Acadia Art Gallery's community show last fall. Other polished co-op artists include watercolourists Jean Leung and Suzanne Patry. Leung, in particular, likes to capture the ever-changing seasons of life, land and people.

The Evangeline Artists' Cooperative

has about 20 members who came together to paint back in 2008. Their next organized art event, Nature en Plein Air, will culminate in a showcase set for Aug. 4 at the Kings County Museum. Registration takes place until July 26.

The Maker Studio and Art Market on Gerrish Street in downtown Windsor is a co-op that began functioning in 2018. The innovative maker space offers classes in fibre, clay, painting, woodwork, stained glass and other ways to polish creativity in different ways. There is also a retail component.

While Avon River Arts in Newport Landing isn't a co-op — it's a museum, to my mind it functions along the same lines in a super scenic setting. The museum is home to the Avon River Arts Society, the Full Circle Festival, the Honey Harvest Festival and the North Along the Shore Jamboree. The society hosts several cultural events annually including Artisans in Action and Hants County's flagship art show, the Great Little Art Show.

Modeled after a late 18th century general store, the Planters

Sea Chest Gift Shop stocks a variety of handmade products, all crafted locally, as well as a selection of books on area history and the unique ecology of the Avon River area. The Lydia and Sally Café also provides homecooked meals.

The Artists' Circle, which is based in the western end of Kings County, operates the Margaretsville Art Shack seasonally on Haddock Alley. The shack re-opens on June 16 to allow the more than

20 members of the circle to show off their art. Bet it's worth a drive over the mountain.

Further west there's ARTSPLACE in Annapolis

Royal, which operates yearround. The town has about half a dozen commercial art galleries, so it's a hub for art.

The Annapolis Region Community Arts Council (ARCAC) was founded back in the 1980s by a group of artists who wanted to share their work and ideas with each other and their community. In 1996, ARCAC acquired its own building, known as ARTSPLACE. It's an artist-run centre with three galleries, some residencies and a pop-up studio/gallery and space for workshops and performances.

Membership in ARCAC now stands at about 200 individuals and families. They all believe that involvement in the arts makes life both rewarding and fun.

I'd love to get down that way before June 24 to see For the

Love of Lichen and Old Forests, Selected Artists, Artisans and Citizen Scientists. It was curated by Susan Tooke.

This coming summer, ARCAC will hold its popular Paint the Town weekend in August. After three years of it happening online, I am sure that Annapolis Royal will be hopping.

Communities all have landmark events and characteristics. Digby is friendly when it comes to motorcyclists and Kentville gets to host the Apple Blossom Festival. I think the more creativity the better.