New outlets promote lesser-known artists in fresh settings

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By Elianna Lev
THE CANADIAN PRESS

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VANCOUVER - Young gallery owners are playing a greater role in the country's art scene, helping to launch the careers of lesser-known artists while bringing emerging international talent to Canada.

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THE CANADIAN PRESS

Lisa Giroday, curator of the LES Studio Gallery, poses for a photograph at the gallery in Vancouver, B.C.

But they say a lack of funding means less creative input for those exhibiting and creating art.

Toronto's Magic Pony started as a shop that sold prints, T-shirts and designer figures known as multiples -- collectible toys designed by different artists who contribute to a series.

Owners Kristin Weckworth, 30, and Steve Cober, 36, wanted to show the range of the artists selling products in their store so they expanded Magic Pony in 2004 to include a gallery.

"We wanted to give people the full picture of what the artist was doing and an insight into their body of work," Weckworth said.

They've since moved locations and the focus of the business has shifted from the shop to the gallery, she said.

Magic Pony mostly exhibits young, contemporary artists such as Gary Taxali, Nathan Jurevicius and the collective Team Macho. Its mandate is to show 50 per cent local and national artists.

In her 25 years as an art critic, Vancouver-based Robin Laurence has watched several young gallery owners find success in the art world, nationally and internationally.

She said evolution is key to a long career, along with vision and a feeling for trends.

However, Laurence acknowledges that lack of experience can lead to challenges.

"Maybe where young galleries are at a disadvantage is not fully understanding the market, what their market would be," she said.

Weckworth said age doesn't contribute to any of the hardships of her business. She said the biggest challenges she and Cober face relate to the lack of funding they receive since they are a commercial gallery.

"You need to sell work in order to propel the gallery forward which means you can't always do really creative inspiring projects that you'd like to because you need to make a profit at the end of the day," she said.

Making a profit is one of the main challenges faced by Lisa Giroday, the owner, curator and director of Vancouver's L.E.S. Gallery, which has exhibited work by New York's Joseph Hart, Manuel Olia of Spain and up-and-comer Mark Delong of Vancouver.

The small space has been developing for three years, originally starting out as a studio that held the occasional art opening. Giroday added operating hours a year ago.

Throwing a successful art opening and drawing established artists to show their work isn't hard for Giroday. Selling art, however, is a different story.

"Getting people to financially support the gallery by buying work, and not just booze or books (at an opening) is another thing completely, so it's a total struggle," she said.