Cristina Pereira wanted a way to push the envelope in the City of the Arts.
The branch manager of Vancity Suter Brook in Port Moody, Pereira had a busy, central space to run her financial institution.
She also had lots of natural light streaming through the window into the West Coast-styled business as well as neutral walls — a perfect environment for a satellite gallery, she thought.
About a year-and-a-half ago, she approached Janice Cotter, the curator for the Port Moody Arts Centre, and proposed her idea. “I knew we had an ideal location and it would attract a lot of attention with our members,” Pereira remembered.
Her first exhibiting artist was Jeff Wilson, a Scottish-Canadian painter who, by chance, she had just learned of his work. Pereira was overjoyed to have him selected as her debut artist as his new collection on Vancouver heritage neon signs was the talk of the town. Indeed, his artwork was a big draw for Vancity and it convinced Pereira she was on the right track. Next up were displays by painters Jane Appleby and Agata Teodorowicz, both of whom teach at the arts centre.
The fourth and latest show, which went up March 11, is called Bottle and Brush by Port Coquitlam painter Kimberly Blackstock, who is on the arts centre faculty. Her original artwork has brought in positive feedback for its experimental designs and bright colours. “It’s an incredible series,” Pereira said. “Everything is just so mesmerizing. I adore it.”
Installation of the exhibits is kept at a minimum so staff and customers are not bothered, Pereira said. Cotter and the chosen artist visit each room in the Brew Street credit union to assess the allocated spaces.
Once up, each piece is labelled with a sticker at the bottom showing its title, measurements and price; however, if someone wants to buy it, the branch stays out of any deal: All transactions must be processed through the arts centre.
For her part, Blackstock loves her art is being seen in an unconventional space.
“Some people are intimidated to go into galleries,” she said, “so this makes it accessible to the general public.”
Still, there are times where Pereira said she’s had to ask the public not to peek inside the glass offices while business conversations are happening.
“Even though we’re a satellite gallery, we’re a credit union first,” she stressed.
• Brush and Bottle runs at the Vancity Suter Brook branch until July 19.
