A gallery is easiest to understand when the doors are open.
There are paintings on the walls, music drifting through the rooms, visitors wandering in from Queen Street, and conversations unfolding in every corner. But what happens to a gallery when the doors are closed?
As it turns out, quite a lot.
While construction continues on our building and our regular hours remain temporarily paused, the gallery has found a different rhythm. It is quieter, certainly, but it is far from still.
Brett Scheifflee’s current exhibition has been doing wonderfully, with eleven paintings already sold. Collectors have discovered the work online, reached out to ask questions, requested additional photographs, and found their way to paintings they love—even without being able to casually wander through the gallery.
We have also scheduled several private appointments for people who wanted to experience the work in person. This Sunday, someone is coming to see a painting from next month’s exhibition. Apparently, even when the gallery doors are closed, art lovers will still find a way to get their monthly art fix.
We love that.
It has reminded us that a gallery has never really been defined by its hours—or even by its walls. It is a network of artists, collectors, friendships, conversations, and shared excitement. The building gives all of that a beautiful place to gather, but the life of the gallery extends far beyond its rooms.
Behind the scenes, Madeleine, our gallery director, has been spending her days online, developing new channels through which we can introduce our artists and their work to the world. A closed door has encouraged us to open a few new ones, and we are thinking carefully about how people discover art, connect with artists, and build meaningful collections from near and far.
Meanwhile, because Megan and I are both painters, we have been using this unusual stretch of time to work. We are each trying to amass an inventory of new paintings for the fall—something that is always easier said than done. Paintings cannot be rushed, but they can be patiently encouraged into existence, one brushstroke and one late night at a time.
So while the gallery may look dormant from the sidewalk, there is actually an enormous amount happening. Paintings are being made. Exhibitions are being planned. Collectors are discovering new work. Appointments are being scheduled. Packages are being prepared. Ideas are quietly taking shape.
Soon enough, the doors will reopen and the rooms will fill again. Until then, the gallery is still very much alive—just working behind closed doors. See you in September!
