Longtime friends, Corina Kennedy and Emily Shanahan decided to broaden their curatorial experience after graduating from Concordia in May 2007 by opening their own open-concept and image-based art gallery called Room and Board.
Room and Board is an appropriate title for the showroom.
Its simplistic layout offers an unencumbered and pure backdrop for the pieces displayed.
Regarding the inspiration of its name Shanahan states, “we were playing with names, phrases and words that seemed to fit our space and our concept.
Room and Board signifies a place where your basic needs are taken care of, and that is what we hope to provide for the artists exhibiting here.”
Room and Board officially launched its opening with the participation of POP Montreal, introducing the exhibition Shangri-Lost, a mixed media display featuring a trio of artists: Jimmy Limit, Jesse Harris and Concordia graduate Shawn Kuruneru.
Shangri-Lost is an apt opening act for the gallery as the artists’ work plays on themes of “the passing of youth” into adulthood; rather appropriate for a new gallery.
Room and Board’s location in the Belgo Building situated on Ste-Catherine St. facing Musique Plus is inspired because it provides a built-in clientele.
People who frequent the Belgo are aware of the multiple galleries already established; these are mostly peppered throughout the third, fourth and fifth floors.
Gallery hopping on Saturdays is a popular activity in the building.
This ingrained clientele gives emerging young artists a level of assured visibility.
Emily maintains “they have had steady traffic so far with lots of interest in the space,” further proven by the positive turn out for the Shangri-Lost vernissage on Oct. 4.
The galleries in the Belgo compliment each other and focus on different media so as not to infringe on each other’s territory.
Being themselves artists, the owners know how to set up the space for maximum utility.
The larger front portions are the exhibition area where people can roam freely to examine the works.
Approximately one quarter of the space in back will be used as a studio for the owners who will have solo shows starting in the winter months.
Adjacent to the studio an area will be dedicated as a store where artists will have the opportunity of selling their pieces.
The gallery is very much a collaborative effort between the proprietors and artists.
Kennedy and Shanahan are especially interested in promoting work by other Concordia-bred artists; although, expanding range and interest with “collaboration and or exchange with other artist run centers in and outside of Canada is an eventual goal.”
Owning and operating one’s own gallery is an ardent venture but both ladies are up for the challenge.
They have worked together as Co-directors for the VAV gallery and participated in Art Matters.
Right now, all financial, administrative and organizational responsibilities fall on their shoulders and those of their very appreciated gallery assistant.
Kennedy and Shanahan hope one day to consecrate themselves full-time to the gallery with the aid of grants and other funding.
Shangri-Lost will be continuing its run at Room and Board until Oct. 13.
Next up will be a show displaying the paintings by Lauren Goldman entitled Present Tense.
The vernissage will be held on Oct. 18 from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
For more info, visit www.roomandboardgallery.com or check them out at:
www.facebook.com
Room and Board Gallery: 372, Ste-Catherine W. Suite 427.
