Sandra Albo (right), the vice-president of the new Okanagan Art Gallery, formerly the Oliver Art Gallery, stands in front of several of her colourful paintings, with good friend and fellow artist Carmen Tome. The Okanagan Art Gallery opened for business at its new location on Main Street in Osoyoos on Tuesday morning. (Keith Lacey photo)
Artists who belong to the Oliver Art Gallery have packed up their easels and moved to Osoyoos.
That’s the word from gallery proprietor Steve Staresina, who said the change was due to a couple of factors – money and traffic flow.
The new gallery in Osoyoos will be called Okanagan Art Gallery, a division of the Oliver Art Gallery.
Artisans spent this past weekend moving their work to the new gallery in Osoyoos and doors opened Tuesday morning.
Staresina said they found double the space in Osoyoos for the same price as what they are paying in Oliver.
The new Oliver Art Gallery is located at 8302 Main Street in Osoyoos, between Shoe Biz and A New Leaf Tea Room.
Staresina said the gallery was negotiating with the provincial government for a larger space (the old courthouse) in Oliver, but it was taking too long.
The veteran artist pointed out there is significantly more traffic flow in Osoyoos – about four times the amount.
“One day I sat in the Osoyoos Art Gallery and there were 43 (people through the door). Oliver had four.”
Staresina said the Oliver gallery is bulging at the seams with artists, with several more coming. Unfortunately, traffic has slowed down over the last couple of years – down by 57 per cent, he said. Strangely sales are up 24 per cent.
Staresina said Main Street in Osoyoos is just “filled with tourists” in the summer time. He even counted them one day.
“I couldn’t believe it . . . that’s what convinced us (to move).”
When asked how the new gallery would impact business at the Osoyoos Art Gallery, curator Sue Whittaker said the board sees it as a “positive thing.”
“It’s like a shoe store, if you have two or three in the community you will attract more customers,” she said.
The longtime supporter of the Osoyoos Art Gallery doesn’t fear competition.
“If Osoyoos becomes known as an art place, that’s good,” she stated.
LYONEL DOHERTY
Special to the Times
