Artists were all in the same predicament during COVID, with limited opportunities to showcase their art – never mind trying to sell any pieces.
But many kept busy painting throughout the pandemic and they’re literally picking up the pieces again to bring forgotten art back into the public eyes of beholders. The inventory has increased, bringing Dennis Brown and Friends to organize an art exhibit and sale.
“Friends of mine, we painted together over the years,” explained Brown. “One of them came up and said ‘I’d sure like to have an exhibit.’”
And, voila, four artists are better than one for providing plenty of choices for customers to view and buy art so Brown is joining forces with Etsuko Kaji-Holley, Mark Davis and Penny Grant at the St. Joseph’s Art Studios Gallery at 9735 Elm St. (the old St. Joseph’s School site) Friday, Nov. 4 through Sunday, Nov. 6 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. each day.
“With the economy being what it is – the cost of everything’s gone up and inflation – we thought we’d be reasonably priced with our art,” said Brown. “We’re giving people a chance to buy art.”
Entrance for the show will be at the front door of the building. Special concessions can be made for those who have difficulties with stairs to reach the show site on the second floor.
“We’re trying to get around that,” said Brown. “We’ll bring it down to the them.”
They can also take pictures of some work to show them if that makes it easier and there will be samples against the empty studios that are downstairs.
“We’re trying to make it as accessible to everybody as we can and let them know we’re still here,” Brown emphasized.
The art to choose from and view falls mainly in the abstract mode, although “we all have different styles,” he pointed out. “Everybody’s got their own way of doing their approach to it.”
Size doesn’t matter, either, since there are small pieces and also some very large ones for those so inclined. Brown’s personal repertoire ranges from nine inch x nine inch pieces to five feet by seven feet.
“Same for the other people,” said Brown. “They don’t have as big as me. They’re probably four feet by five feet.”
The studio has been a salvation in many ways for him, converting from a hectic career to spending more time just enjoying his craft. Brown, a Ladysmith resident, is one of just five artists remaining in the building that was originally sold but the deal fell through, and he intends to stay as long as possible until another sale comes along.
Related story: Art studios remain with no sale of former St. Joseph’s School property
“I love doing it, the energy of putting your whole self into it,” said Brown, with his trusty dog by his side in the studio.
Davis and Kaji-Holley are also from Ladysmith and Grant resides in Nanaimo.
“They have home studios and they’d come here and we’d paint in the lobby, but we haven’t done that for two years,” pointed out Brown.
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