gallery spotlight I by Peggy Stortz West most Vancouver's Ferry Building is u n d o u b t e d l y o n e o f t h e important centres f o r arts a n d culture o n t h e N o r t h S h o r e . W i t h 5 5 , 0 0 0 v i s i t o r s p e r y e a r , it is p o s s i b l y t h e m o s t v i s i t e d g a l l e r y in t h e G r e a t e r V a n c o u v e r R e g i o n a l D i s t r i c t . This s u m m e r ' s 1 5 t h a n n i v e r s a r y m a r k s a " c o m i n g of a g e " f o r t h e Ferry B u i l d i n g a n d t h e n e x t f e w y e a r s p r o m i s e s o m e e x c i t i n g c h a n g e s . T h e F r i e n d s o f t h e G a l l e r y S o c i e t y , e s t a b l i s h e d last year, s p o n s o r e d a s u c c e s s f u l f u n d r a i s i n g e v e n t c a l l e d " T h e Paint B o x C h a l l e n g e . " Several l o c a l artists p a r t i c i p a t e d . A n a u c t i o n of their w o r k s raised $ 3 5 , 0 0 0 t o w a r d s t h e e x p a n s i o n plans. R u t h P a y n e , g a l l e r y c u r a t o r f o r t h e last t e n y e a r s , h a s d o n e a lot t o facilitate this " c o m i n g o f a g e " t h r o u g h t h e initiation of p r o g r a m s l i k e t h e Arts Connection, a m o n t h l y salon that draws m o r e t h a n a h u n d r e d artists. S h e h a s also o r g a n i z e d art tours t o N e w Y o r k C i t y a n d t o E u r o p e . It's l i k e l y t h a t , a s t h e g a l l e r y g r o w s , P a y n e w i l l i n c r e a s e t h e o p p o r t u n i t i e s it o f f e r s t o artists a n d art lovers. W h e n s h e w a s p l a n n i n g f o r t h e July e x h i b i t i o n , P a y n e t h o u g h t t h e a r t w o r k o f t h e First N a t i o n s P e o p l e w o u l d b e a w o n d e r f u l choice, "We a tribute to the original inhabitants of this place. h a v e a w e a l t h o f First N a t i o n s a r t i s t s o n t h e N o r t h S h o r e . this s h o w would b e a terrific w a y t o celebrate I thought our anniversary."