Groop Gallery really is living up to its name.
The founding studio owned by Melanie Desjardines is still operational, it's just confined to the back room of the main floor.
That's where her painting and metalwork will be worked on as her other business and family ventures allow.
Down in the basement is where art and portrait photographer Philomena Hughes will be running her studio. She has that area to set up scenario shoots and store props and costumes and camera equipment as needed.
The question about the space always centred on the main floor's feature showroom at the front of the store. Desjardines originally used it as a formal gallery, but that cut into her own creative time and she was unavailable to run a functional slate of open hours.
That changes as of today. A preexisting art vendor - Ridge Side Art - will be opening the doors in a whole new way and turning an online business into a storefront business, and at the same time turning Groop Gallery into, well, a group gallery.
"Melanie has been a tremendous mentor and Phil has been super supportive and helpful. It'll be a great combination," said Ridge Side Art proprietor, and active artist in her own right, Christina Harmer Watts.
"What I'll be doing isn't just purely a gallery. I'm bringing in some specialty art supplies as well. Most of it isn't carried by any of the other art stores. I'm trying to fill some gaps for local artists but not compete with the existing art supply businesses."
Harmer Watts is bringing back the art sales, however. That part is already rippling across the local arts community with excitement. There are few places where local and regional painters and sculptors can display their work with a price tag attached. Harmer Watts already has the walls of the showroom populated with some of the area's best.
The roster on display right now includes: Jan Thompson, Evy Fisher, Sharron MacBride, Trevor Stanley, Pat Russman, Donna Morrison, Leanna Carlson of Carlson Pottery, Kat Valcourt, Caroline Lavoie, Marie Eve Lavoie, Cher French of CFree Art, wildlife/wilderness photographer Darwin Paton, James Spankie, Yvonne Sawkins, Lynda Anderson, Steel Tiara's Colleen Loutit, Trisha Gunderson of Chilako Nubians goat milk soap, jewelry by Theresa Leduc, industrial lighting artist Anthony Girard, and Harmer Watts herself. Several more are available on the Ridge Side Art web-sales site and more are pending.
"I walked away from a very good, dependable job so I could do this. I've take on that risk," she said. "But if you're going to take a chance on something in life, you should do it on yourself. I'm super excited. I can't wait to see how this all unfolds."
Today's grand opening of Groop Gallery's new anchor tenant, Ridge Side Art, happens from 12-4 p.m. just west of Third Avenue and George Street. The regular hours of operation will be Tuesday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturdays from 12-4 p.m.
There will also be classes and special events that add to those open times.
