Arts
SOWA welcomes Galatea Fine Arts by Ashley Rigazio
MySouthEnd.com ContributorTuesday Nov 17, 2009 Gallery offers 54 fresh perspectives for the South End scene
A new cooperative gallery has joined the neighborhood at 460B Harrison Avenue: Galatea Fine Arts, a collective of 54 artists seeking to bring variety and unique perspectives to SOWA.
Galatea opened its doors on Nov. 4, about five weeks after director Marjorie Kaye and communications manager Steven Duede-with the help of designer/photographer George Shaw-began transforming the empty space into a dynamic, contemporary-styled art gallery. Galatea is now the fourth cooperative gallery in the South End, joining the Kingston, Bromfield, and Boston Sculptors.
"What’s important about bringing another cooperative gallery to this neighborhood is that we brought 54 new points of view to this neighborhood, 54 new artists," said Duede. "I don’t know how many of them have shown in galleries in this area, but I suspect that not many of them have. It brings new ideas, new dialogue about art."
The Galatea collective is mainly composed of artists based in and around Boston. Kaye said what makes the gallery stand out is its "enormous" membership base, which runs the gamut of styles, media, and prices.
"We’ve combined a lot of different talents to make this come alive," she said. "We’re just very lucky to have so many people with different backgrounds come together to make it happen."
Both Kaye and Duede are artists and members themselves. Kaye draws and paints; she runs Caladan Gallery online and previously operated a physical space in Lawrence that hosted both group and solo shows. Duede worked with the Institute of Contemporary Art on its move to the waterfront two years ago and also works as a consultant to museums in New York and Connecticut. At Galatea, Duede shows his paint and mixed media art and handles the gallery’s website, press releases, newsletters, and other communications.
When Kaye set out to form Galatea in September, the response among local artists was so immediate and overwhelming she had to start a waiting list.
"We had to turn away a lot of artists, and I’m sure there were a lot of talented people in that group that didn’t quite make it," said Duede. Likewise, he added, the physical creation of the gallery-from finding the space to the design and build-out of the walls, to administrative duties and the website launch-happened very quickly.
During that time, Kaye and Shaw practically lived at the gallery, working throughout the day and unwinding over a drink at J.J. Foley’s at night. Since then, Kaye said, "The dust has settled somewhat, but not that much. ... It requires ongoing energy, but it’s good energy. It’s good exhaustion."
Similarly, Duede noted, "There’s a great energy among the members/artists to be here and participate in this program, and I think it’s going to add a new element to this neighborhood. I think we already have, actually."
Kaye tried to capture this spirit in the gallery’s inaugural members’ exhibition.
"What we did is choose something from each member that is symbolic of what they do and what their artistic expression is, and we did so in the hopes of making everything flow and making a single statement, which is often very difficult to do with a group this size," she explained. "But because of the dynamic of the group in general, we were able to pull it off. Everyone was very excited and very cooperative, and so we were able to get a good, coherent, cohesive exhibition."
The exhibition runs through Nov. 28 and features paintings, photography, sculpture, and even a comedic digital video project by Galatea friend and Boston expatriate Kurt Wahlstrom.
According to Kaye, the opening reception was "jam packed"-a testament to the South End’s supportive arts community.
"It’s a very cooperative and dynamic and energetic and inspiring place to be. I’m an artist also, so just to be surrounded by so much wonderful artwork and artists is just opening my eyes daily," she said. "It’s just wonderful."
"We were stunned by the response," added Duede. "I’d guess we had 150 to 200 people trying to squeeze in this room. There was a line out the door to get in. It was pretty remarkable, and a very nice welcome for the new kids on the block."
The future holds a variety of solo, two-person, and group shows, and the space itself, with three sub-divisions, offers additional flexibility in Galatea’s exhibition schedule.
From Dec. 3 through 30, Galatea will have its first small works show, running concurrently with SOWA Winter Lights and offering more than 150 affordable works-from prints to handmade books and flat files-for the holiday gift-giving season. Kicking off the New Year will be Sean Palmatier’s "Mutations" and a show by Alice Shafer and Wilson Hunt, Jr., entitled "Color/Form." Those exhibitions will run from Jan. 6 through 30.
Galatea Fine Arts is open Wednesday through Friday from noon to 6:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.galateaart.org.
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