Harbour View Gallery celebrates anniversary

news-press.com
November 1st, 2008

The economic ride of the past year has dipped deeper than any brush into paint, but for the Harbour View Gallery the first year in business was filled with varied hues.

The gallery and its cooperative of seven business partners celebrated its one-year anniversary with a party at the gallery Oct. 24.

"This is a real success story," Cape Harbour developer Will Stout said. "It's the diamond in the brooch. They have an array of all different kinds of art, from funky art to real art."

Customers and friends packed the gallery to get a peek at the artists newest works for the fall and winter season.

"We've learned a lot this past year," artist and partner Shirley Hales said. "We have looked back at the past year and thought about what direction we want to go in for the coming year."

During its inaugural year the partners instituted a visiting artists program to highlight the works or new and unknown artists, and talked to customers about their preferences. Heading into the future the gallery's spot in the Cape Harbour shops seems secure. The biggest change during the first year was the exit of photographer Florene Welebny, who left to concentrate on her own projects, and the introduction of photographer Marvin Weiner who has become a partner in the artistic venture. The gallery has survived and thrived in an economy that has taken a beating on the retail front.

For Weiner, who is new to the retail concept, Harbour View Gallery is more about connecting with people and less about making a sale.

"Even if I don't sell to customers I enjoy talking about the inner working of art," Weiner said. "One of the things we focus on, more than anything, is pride in the gallery."

Each artist works at the gallery one day a week, so that no matter when customers pay a visit, they can speak directly with one of the owners who knows about the art, where it was made and a little of the history.

Punta Gorda residents Bill and Sue Rigby were onhand for the anniversary celebration, and perused the art of fun and a potential purchase.

"We like to come to Cape Harbour," Sue Rigby said. "We sometimes come by boat. We always come here because they have such a nice variety of art."

Mother and daughter Lynn Marr and Carrie Marr, said that they were impressed by the diversity of work the gallery has to offer.

"You can look at the pieces without being distracted," Lynn Marr said. "It's museum quality."

The gallery artists are rotate the work and update the gallery on an ongoing basis, Hales said.

"We're looking forward to having a lot of fun together," she said. "In addition to selling work and having a place to show it, we're like family."