tenant profile

Janet Bellotto from Nile Blue (October 31 November 24)

Peter Dykhuis detail from Inventory #5 (September 5 22)

THE RED HEAD GALLERY: CLEVER AS A FOX Studio 115

At last weve solved a mystery thats been sitting with us for some time: why its called The Red Head Gallery (Studio 115). It looked like it might be unsolvable until member artist Lynn Christine Kelly (Studio 216) dug deep into the collective memory of the gallery with Elaine Whittaker and came up with an answer. Fittingly, the name was inspired by art. The original collective created a line-drawn logo of a red fox (an animal selected for its associations with cleverness) and the literal description of the image followed: The Red Head Gallery. Twenty-two years later, the gallery remains a collectivelyrun space. Over the years, two hundred exhibitions have been mounted by over one hundred member artists. Some of those artists have stayed for many years and others have used the gallery as a launching pad. Regardless of the reasons why an artist is drawn to the space, for all of them its a place where they can explore creatively by their own rules. As Lynn explains, I would say the gallery has become a space where an artist can show what their heart desiresyou can have your work seen and your voice heard without having to consider any kind of compromise. You can be as daring as you want. The gallery is always accepting applications for spots as they become available and new members are chosen by current members through a vote. All members are expected to contribute in some capacity to programming and operations, were always looking for innovation and quality when we look for new members but people must also be involved. And there is plenty to be involved in. Coming up this fall, Red Head will be presenting their annual group show Insomnia . Insomnia (redux) invites the public to submit a two-dimensional object to be reimagined by a selection of local artists who will be working in the gallery on the night of Built for ART and Scotiabank Nuit Blanche (September 29). This interactive experiment is being curated by the gallery Director Donia Almassi, who started last fall and has been a great addition to the gallery. Submissions are being accepted until September 21 so check their website if youre interested. In December, gallery members are each producing a new work on the theme Inside/Outside for a group show that joins our second annual Frolic festivities opening on December 6. Were left with the feeling that this collective of artists has managed to pull off some impressive feats through sheer dedication to the space. Its not simply a place for them to show their work, but is also a gathering place and community that influences all the artists involved.