spotlight by Ilona Beiks Making A r t Accessible: An Eclectic Gallery Highlights BC Artists W hen G l e n P o w e l l w a l k s into a traditional art gallery, he finds it " c o l d and intimidating." So w h e n he and p a r t n e r D a w n e Bringeland envis i o n e d a large-scale venue t o profile B C artists, they set o u t t o c r e a t e an e n v i r o n m e n t w h e r e art is n o t e n s h r i n e d o r placed u p o n a pedestal but is accessible and " b u y a b l e " by the average p e r s o n . T h e result is o n e year-old M o r g a n D a w n e G a l l e r y , a 2,300-square-foot space f r o n t e d by floor-to-ceiling w i n d o w s , w h i c h entice passers-by t o v i e w the c r e a t i o n s o f 4 5 v e r y different artists w h o w o r k in s o m e v e r y different m e d i u m s . Traditional w a t e r c o l o u r s , oils, and pastels mingle w i t h folk art, c e r a m i c s , and glass. M a r b l e and jade sculptures a c c e n t textile and fabric w o r k s . W o o d and granite objects c o u n t e r b a l a n c e soft pastels and miniatures. It may s o u n d like a c u r a t o r ' s nightmare. It c o u l d easily go f r o m the sublime t o the r i d i c u l o u s . But G l e n P o w e l l has a gift f o r skillfully blending various art f o r m s into a h a r m o n i o u s relationship. It's his way of o p e n i n g up the w o r l d of art t o t h o s e w h o think it's b e y o n d their s c o p e . " T h e r e ' s a general lack of art awareness in o u r culture, as a society, in c o m p a r i s o n t o E u r o p e and the U n i t e d States.That's why w e t o o k this a p p r o a c h -- t o attract p e o p l e t h r o u g h art that is functional, eclectic, and creative, but w i t h i n the realm of m o s t people's u n d e r s t a n d i n g . . . a r t b e c o m e s s o m e t h i n g n o t just m o u n t e d and v i e w e d but a part of life." O n e year later, P o w e l l and Bringeland have r e m a i n e d t r u e t o their v i s i o n . T h e y ' r e s h o w c a s i n g N o r t h S h o r e and B C artists in a way that e n c o u r a g e s o n e t o e m b r a c e art. P o w e l l smiles proudly. " O n e of t h e highlights is seeing the joy in s o m e o n e d i s c o v e r i n g art, buying their first original, and t h e n w a t c h i n g t h e m evolve." A s he w i n d s his way t h r o u g h pathways c r e a t e d by imaginative and often w h i m s i c a l g r o u p i n g s , P o w e l l is already visualizing n e x t m o n t h s s h o w -- a n d w h o will c o m e . M o r g a n D a w n e G a l l e r y is at 220 West Esplanade, across from Waterfront Park. Gallery hours: Mon. to Sat, 11 am to 5:30 pmjhurs. 11 am to 8 p m ; Sun. 12 984-1286. M i DS u MM e R NighTsDream A M easure ^ M easure On the new S,UDIOSTAE pm to 4:30 pm. Phone: (604) Sponsored by H S B C Sponsored by M C L Motor Cars Tuesdays through Sundays Under the tents in Vanier Park MACMH * TicketMaster: (604) 280-3311 Bard Box Office: (604) 739-0559 Visit our website @ www.faximum.com/bard