Island Renaissance
Rocking the art boat: New Avis Frank Gallery aims to bring a wave of high art toGalveston
Lisa Qualls, curatorPhoto by Roswitha Vogler
Avis Frank Gallery on The Strand in Galveston
Michael Arcieri, "Clown with Motorcycle"
Martin Wnuk, "Asia Minor I"
The sometimes stagnant waters of the Galveston art scene are beginning to stir. Rocking the boat are Houston-based artists David Hardaker and Ray Phillips, whose Avis Frank Gallery is slated to launch on Saturday with the opening of the exhibition, Spectrum.
"The whole idea is to bring something different to Galveston," says Phillips, who displays his own work at Upper Kirby gallery Laura Rathe Fine Art. "It's to bring a piece of Houston to the island — high-end art in a high-end gallery."
The artist, who relocated to the island from his downtown studio one year ago, says that Galveston already counts its own creative community. "But it needed a little more," he says. "I moved here a year ago just to get out of Houston for a little while. I always loved coming to the island, so I moved down here and got a condo."
"From the beginning, the idea was to bring money to the island," Phillips explains. "There's an art scene here, but it's a tourist town. And tourists don't buy art. Collectors buy art."
Avis Frank Gallery will showcase local, national and international mid-career artists. The Strand space itself holds resonance with its new occupants, having been built in 1870 as the Rice Baulard Building, Texas' first art supply store. Hardaker and Phillips brightened the historic red brick interior by lime washing the walls, followed by a fresh white coat.
"We gutted everything," Phillips says. "It's got a real vintage modern thing going on."
The gallery's name comes from a combination of Phillips' and Hardaker's middle names.
The space has been outfitted to also screen art house movies. Across from the Avis Frank façade is David Adickes' "Stone Trumpet."
The inaugural exhibition, Spectrum, has been guest curated by artist Lisa Qualls. Listed on the 18-artist roster are Patrick Renner, Douglas Cason and Marie Valdez, all of whom work in different media but explore the role of color. Phillips tells CultureMap that the next show will feature the work of John Adelman and Joseph Cohen (of Lawndale's 2010 Big Show renown).
The gallery owners anticipate the works on view will be more of a draw for Houston collectors than tourist impulse shoppers, even with the new cruise ship traffic.
"From the beginning, the idea was to bring money to the island," Phillips explains. "There's an art scene here, but it's a tourist town. And tourists don't buy art. Collectors buy art."
However, he maintains that the gallery is free for all to enjoy, and opening events could serve as a focal point to a seaside jaunt that may include sailing, swimming and a nice dinner. For the latter, he recommends the neighboring Black Pearl.
Could the gallery act as a catalyst in what is often perceived as a washed-up cultural wasteland by Houston landlubbers? "This was something the scene needed badly," Phillips says.
A reception for Spectrum will be held on Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m. The exhibition is on view through Aug. 13.
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