20 Years of Love and Art
Happy Birthday to us!
SaskGalleries is celebrating 20 years of incorporation this week. Our actual birthdate is the official day for love, February 14, befitting of an association that is all about promoting and celebrating the love of original art and commercial art galleries. We asked leaders in our association to tell us, in their own words, more about how SaskGalleries came to be and where it is headed in the next 20 years.
Founding president and honourary life member Susan Whitney and founding board member and honorary life member Murray Gruza tell us about their vision for this new association.
What was your vision for SaskGalleries at the beginning?
Susan Whitney:
The commercial galleries in Saskatchewan needed a unifying organization with a credible voice to advocate our specific interests alongside the other established creative industry associations. In forming an association, our galleries gained strength in numbers and the potential to grow and excel. I am honoured to have represented the association in the role of founding President and to have played a part, along with my colleagues, in the creation of SaskGalleries.
Murray Gruza:
When Susan Whitney asked me if I would be interested in coming to a meeting of gallery owners, to explore the idea of forming an organization of galleries which would liaise with the provincial government and engage in professional development for gallery owners, I was intrigued. The thought that the provincial government saw us as an industry was an eye opener. Before this revelation, I thought we were just seen as a group of shopkeepers.
I have always believed there are benefits from strength in numbers and that this new organization would someday grow to encompass all sellers of original art in our province. I visualized an organization developing better professional galleries, promoting artists and educating the public on the benefits of art ownership as well as encouraging artists in their efforts.
Today, SaskGalleries has many accomplishments to be proud of over their 20 year history. From operating an international pop-up gallery for four years, to this year’s fifth edition of the world-class fine art fair, Art Now, to having more members than ever before, to growing their audiences on multiple platforms, SaskGalleries has demonstrated that a small group can make a big impact on an industry.
We spoke to current president of SaskGalleries, Linda Stark, and board member, Aidan Morgan.
Of which SaskGalleries’ accomplishment are you most proud?
Linda Stark:
As we celebrate SaskGalleries' 20th anniversary, I'm incredibly proud of our dedicated members throughout the province. The support they provide to their artists, clients and the general public creates a diverse, creative community; one that we celebrate through events such as Art Now.
Behind every great original artwork, there is an equally interesting story. Our members are privileged to share these stories with our visitors and clients every day.
Aidan Morgan:
As a member of the Board of Directors of SaskGalleries, I'm most proud of the way that we have built Art Now over the last five years into a showcase for the variety and quality of galleries from across Saskatchewan and western Canada.
What do you think is the greatest strength of SaskGalleries?
Aidan Morgan:
I think the greatest strength of SaskGalleries is our deep understanding of the industry and the way that informs our strategic decision making.
So what does our future hold? SaskGalleries is very fortunate to have a forward-thinking Board of Directors and a membership that collaborates for the greater good and the growth of the commercial gallery industry in Saskatchewan. New ideas, such as Second Saturdays, a provincial gallery day, and other gallery pop ups are a few of the future initiatives of the association.
New SaskGalleries’ member, Brent Hamel, and board member, Michael Peterson, tell us why they are members of SaskGalleries and where they think the association is headed.
Why are you a member of SaskGalleries?
Brent Hamel:
As a new entrant to the art industry in Saskatchewan, it is important to surround ourselves with other commercial art galleries in Saskatchewan for professional development and network building, served through a common voice.
Michael Peterson:
I'm a member of SaskGalleries because, as an artist myself, I know the important role commercial galleries play in helping artists be paid for their work and able to support themselves through their art. And, as someone who struggled early in my career to get my work into galleries, I've experienced some of the barriers that can exist and am happy I can be part of the work that SaskGalleries does in making the space more equitable and accessible.
Where do you think the association can go in the future?
Brent Hamel:
I think SaskGalleries can explore opportunities for continuing to promote the industry by organizing gallery weekends and other events, and by exploring additional opportunities for disseminating industry and local news and developments that impact the industry.
Michael Peterson:
I think the best directions for SaskGalleries to continue to grow in the future are in continuing to lead the commercial art sector in Saskatchewan in becoming more equitable and accessible, and to help Saskatchewan artists to expand their careers outside the province. Through programs of mentorship and training, SaskGalleries is building the knowledge base and resources for commercial galleries, providing important professional development tools they would not have access to otherwise. And through its continued market and export programming, it is enabling Saskatchewan galleries and artists to build connections throughout Canada and beyond.
SaskGalleries is a not-for-profit association borne of the commercial galleries of Saskatchewan themselves. Through their volunteerism, initiative, passion, and love for original fine art, and the support of Creative Saskatchewan, the association continues to deliver on its mission to promote, develop, and encourage the growth of Saskatchewan’s professional commercial art galleries.
Cheers to many more years of SaskGalleries!
Susan Gillian Whitney is founding president and honourary life member of Saskatchewan Professional Art Galleries Association Inc. (SaskGalleries), past-president and honourary life member of the Art Dealers Association of Canada and past member of many local and national arts and cultural organizations including the Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board. In 1979, she founded the Susan Whitney Gallery, a vibrant and nationally acclaimed commercial gallery representing many important and notable artists throughout its 26-year history. Since 2005, Susan has devoted her full time and focus to art appraisals and has successfully completed all course and examination requirements of the International Society of Appraisers (of which she is a past member).
Murray Gruza was born and raised in Saskatoon and is a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. He initially worked as a display person in retail and spent seven years in educational television, working in various capacities as cameraman, set builder, lighting director, and director. In 1979, he accepted a new opportunity and became a partner in the new gallery, Collector’s Choice Art Gallery. In July of 1980 he became the manager and full time employee of the gallery. He and his wife, Lissa, eventually became sole owners of Collector’s Choice and continued to expand the business, travelling to seminars, courses, and workshops throughout Canada and the United States. Over 39 years, until March 31, 2018, Murray took pride in finding the right solution for his clients’ art and framing needs. Murray served on the SaskGalleries board of directors for over 19 years as president, treasurer, and member-at-large.
Linda Stark studied at the University of Saskatchewan, where she completed an Honours Degree in Art History. In the past, she has volunteered and contributed to a number of cultural organizations in Saskatoon, having served as a board member with The Photographer's Gallery, BlackFlash Magazine, and The Marr Residence. With Art Placement since 1998, Linda assumed the role of Gallery Manager in 2007. She is also the director of the St. Thomas More Gallery and Art Collection at the University of Saskatchewan, and has participated as a member of the SaskGalleries' Executive since 2013.
Aidan Morgan is a Communications and Marketing Specialist with Tourism Saskatchewan and a freelance writer and photographer. He has written extensively on arts, culture, food and Saskatchewan literature. He's always good for a restaurant recommendation. Aidan joined the SaskGalleries board of directors in 2018.
Brent Hamel (pictured with Carla Flaman in front of Black Spruce Gallery) is from Saskatchewan, is an active resident in Waskesiu since 2003, and took ownership of an 85 year-old log building in 2006. While the building hosted numerous galleries and gift shops over time, Brent sought the opportunity to open Black Spruce Gallery in summer 2019. Brent has marketed business services and products to Canadian and international clientele for over 26 years, including those in the medical, natural resource and technology industries. Brent has owned, partnered with and operated numerous retail, hospitality and service-related businesses in Saskatchewan and Asia.
Michael Peterson co-founded Void in 2012 as a commercial gallery focused on emerging artists and is Director of the non-profit printmaking studio into which Void has grown. He has been a board member of SaskGalleries since 2016.