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Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Oak Bay gallery owners roll out the red carpet Brittany Lee
body’s living room versus walking into a large commercial gallery,” Hamilton said. Imagine strolling along Oak Bay That “small village feeling” is Avenue on a sunny afternoon, what the gallery owners want to get searching through local art galler- across to visitors, Hamilton said. ies for unique crafts and gifts, grabNigel Hayes is the owner of Side bing a coffee or perhaps a snack at Street Studio. The studio showthe neighbourhood cafe, and then cases pottery, glasswork and jewbrowsing shops unique to Oak Bay. elry made by B.C. artists. That’s the vision a group of local “People look at the galleries and business owners want to see come think, ‘oh, it’s a business,’ but actutrue. ally the art is the business,” he Seven art gallery owners along said. Oak Bay Avenue are banding The artists rely on the income together to promote Oak Bay Vil- from the galleries to survive, he lage and its local explained. businesses as a Hayes wants peo“We want people to ple to acknowledge destination for both locals and tourists be aware that there’s that Oak Bay has alike. evolved in recent “We want people seven different galleries years and develto be aware that (in the Village).” oped into “a very there’s seven differyoung and vibrant - Bobb Hamilton ent galleries (in the community,” he Village),” said Bobb said. Hamilton, director at Red Art GalThere’s a good collection of prilery. “There’s a complete variety of vately-owned businesses in Oak works carried in all the galleries, Bay with products exclusive to the so you’ve got this wide range of Island, Hayes added. But what’s choices.” unique is the business’ focus on Oak Bay has the highest concen- customer service and serving the tration of art galleries in Greater community. Victoria and they’re all located on “It hasn’t lost its old world the same street, Hamilton said. charm,” Hayes said. Many of the art studios feature The group has started distributworks of Canadian artists. The ing rack cards with a map showing work available ranges from unique the location of all the Oak Bay galpaintings to locally made crafts and leries to places such as the Victoartisan jewelry. ria International Airport and in the “We’ve tried to make our gallery departure lounge of the Clipper in (Red Art), in particular, a very, very Seattle. welcoming, embracing type of galPLEASE SEE: lery where you walk in and you feel Joint effort, Page A7 more like you’re coming into someNews staff
Sharon Tiffin/News staff
Clockwise, from front left, Kaitlyn Webb Patience and Louise Major from Ted Harrison Studio, Bobb Hamilton from Red Art Gallery, Nigel Hayes from Side Street Studio, Heather Wheeler from The Avenue Gallery and Oak Bay Coun. Tara Ney roll out the red carpet to welcome everyone to Oak Bay’s gallery row.
OAK
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tomf@vreb.bc.ca
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