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www.theprogress.com
Tuesday, July 24, 2012 The Chilliwack Progress
Moving beyond a gallery at Smudges Art Shoppe When Marko Jalava sought a new location for his downtown art store, he also embarked on a new approach. The aptly named Smudges Art Shoppe blurs the lines between art gallery, art store and art service. But it does this without losing the original intent of Jalava’s Yale Road location at Enigma Art Gallery: to make original artwork accessible, understandable and affordable. Jalava opened his new Mill Street store last month. The new location offers a bright and welcoming space that provides Jalava with the flexibility to move beyond a “gallery.” The room is sectioned into intimate viewing areas, accented with track lighting and ample natural light. The increased wall space provides not only more area for artwork, it allows him to feature different artists, and theme various locations. Jalava’s own artwork – haunting black and white portraits and vividly colourful landscapes – now domi-
Marko Jalava moved his business from Yale Road to Mill Street, and changed the name to Smudges Art Shoppe.
medium. It is a collaborative approach, where Jalava uses his skill as an artist to help customers achieve the most from their image. “The intent is to produce something artful from their own photography,” he says. That image could be a photograph taken yesterday, or a tattered black and white photo from years gone by. Jalava helps with the nuances of colour, composition and contrast, resulting in a work that customers are proud to hang on their wall. Each image is also treated with four layers of protective coating. Smudges Art Shoppe has only been open a few weeks, but Jalava is already happy with the reception. His decision to remain in the downtown was deliberate, and he says he’s excited to be a part of the area’s continued growth and revitalization. Smudges Art Shoppe is located at 9345 Mill St., Chilliwack, and is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday (open until 7 p.m. on Fridays during Party in the Park). For more information, call 604.392.7779.
JENNA HAUCK/ PROGRESS
nates. But that will change. He points to a current exhibit of limited edition prints in Gary Haggquist’s Sunnyside Series as an
example of what he hopes to do. The goal is to showcase other artists and offer a venue for them to market their work.
He also intends to branch into another area with repurposed furniture and “select” home decor. But right now, print mak-
ing remains a core part of his business. Using the latest technology, Jalava can transfer any digital image onto a canvas or art paper
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