2 minute read
Visit the Parrott Gallery this Summer
By Susan Holland, Curator
Susan Holland, Curator of John M. Parrot Art Gallery. Photograph by Brian Choi
We are going to let you in on one of the best kept secrets in town. It’s time for you to discover, or rediscover, the hidden gem on the third floor of the Belleville Public Library: the John M. Parrott Gallery. First, let’s draw back the curtain to get a glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes to make it all happen.
Every four to six weeks the exhibitions in the galleries change over, but—here’s a fun fact—the work on each show sometimes begins two or more years prior to the exhibit. It starts with planning sessions with the artists, and we collect the publicity images and information about the makers and their work. Next, the work is delivered and inventoried, and then the fun begins. The work is curated and arranged in a way that emphasizes the strongest points of each piece and ensures the best possible viewing experience.
We also are caretakers to a very large permanent collection of artwork, including approximately 80 Manly MacDonald paintings that were Jack Parrott’s
personal collection and donated by the Parrott Foundation. All of the works in that collection have now been professionally cleaned, and several are on display in the Gallery and throughout the Library.
The other collections and individual works by regional artists in our care are also rotated for display throughout the building. Our collection mandate is to display work by significant regional artists, or, alternately, works with significant regional content. We will always gratefully consider any offers of donations.
John M. Parrot Art Gallery on the third floor of the Belleville Public Library. Photograph by Brian Choi
and workshops, life drawing and doodling, and several music performances each year round out the gallery experience. If you have any ideas about what you’d like to see happening here, we’d love to hear from you!
The Parrott Gallery Shop showcases and sells the work of our uber-talented regional artisans. From fibre to wood, glass to ceramic, there is something for everyone. The shop is one of Belleville’s hidden treasures, but not for long. We’d love to see you during your visit to the Library and Gallery.
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