Original Art for Your Home

For the uninitiated, walking into an art gallery can be

an uncomfortable and even an alienating experience.

Our world is often divided into artists and

non-artists. Yet I would argue that most people are more

visually savvy than they give themselves credit for. Slick

television programming, movies, digital photography, and

even the most rudimentary computer programs contribute

to an awareness of colour, composition, texture and form.

Moving into a new home provides the perfect

opportunity to heighten your visual sensibility as you

make choices about your space and where you will

place belongings that say so much about who you are.

Don't let the walls become afterthoughts where you

place framed posters.

Now that the warmer weather has arrived a great

way to spend Saturdays is to walk around the various

gallery districts in Toronto and then converse over

coffee. Queen Street West is overflowing with small,

commercial galleries owned by exuberant and inspired

individuals who are committed to the artists that they

represent. Dealers can offer a wealth of information on

the works that they have available. Katharine Mulherin

of Katharine Mulherin Contemporary Art Projects,

says that new collectors are as important as seasoned

ones. She offers a very comforting approach to the

endeavour of shopping for art. "If you're unsure about a

major investment, start small. A number of small pieces

can be just as interesting as a major piece, and can keep

you collecting on a regular basis. Most importantly, buy

art because you love it and feel a connection to it. It will

give back to you over and over again, and will stimulate

your day to day life with fresh ways of seeing and

thinking about things. Your collection is your own

personal statement about what interests you."

Clint Roenisch, Director of the Clint Roenisch

Gallery says that the mistake most people make when

beginning to collect is to buy impulsively without

finding out enough about the artist or the gallery. "The

vision and conviction of the dealer," he says, "are as

much a part of buying contemporary art as the work

being shown." Roenisch encourages potential clients to get out and talk to as many dealers as possible to find

out why they believe in the artists that they show. He

also advises people to spend time visiting public

galleries like the Power Plant, the Museum of

Contemporary Canadian Art and the Art Gallery of

Ontario to obtain a broad perspective of what

contemporary art can be about. These public spaces

also offer informative lectures by visiting artists.

Robert Birch operates his gallery at the Distillery

Historic District, where there are a number of excellent

galleries specializing in contemporary painting,

photography, sculpture and glass. Birch recommends

doing a lot of research before committing to a

purchase. After narrowing your choices down to an

artist who produces art within your price range, he

suggests purchasing the work that is most challenging

to relate with. "Many people buy a work that they love

at first sight, and then grow tired of it. A difficult

work," he says, "can offer the qualities of a long term

relationship - you will have good days and bad, but in

the long run the connection can be deep and fulfilling."

As with Queen West, the Distillery District can be a

wonderful place to spend the day - offering an

astonishing variety of work and also a hospitable

environment to discuss what you have just been

looking at. Time it right and you can sit in the

courtyard and take in some live jazz over lunch.