Innisfil's be contemporary gallery is a one-of-kind space, featuring work from local artists while bringing contributing to the town's arts and culture community.
Located on Yonge Street in Stroud, Director Jeanette Luchese is in her second year of running the space. Luchese is also an award-winning visual artist.
The gallery came to be just before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic with its first exhibit, 'Leap of Faith' in February 2020.
"It was just a matter of opening it up, to showcase the local artists that are just phenomenal, and give them (artists) an opportunity," she said.
"We don't really have an arts scene in Innisfil, so it's a first step," she said, adding that the Innisfil Library has been one of the supportive spaces for artists in town.
The gallery was only supposed to be open for one year, with plans to have the building torn down.
But there has been a delay in its demolition, and the building owner has allowed Luchese to keep the gallery open.
The Leap of Faith show was so well-received by artists and visitors, that an advisory committee was created. The committee of members including Ted Fullerton, Sue Hickling, William Moore, Tim Laurin, Gary Evans, Jill Price, Christina Luck, Sarah Elizebeth Leonard, Jeanette Luchese, assist with all programming at the gallery.
Most of the artists featured at the gallery are friends and colleagues that Luchese has made throughout her art career, like Ted Fullerton and Marlene Hilton Moore.
"They are not only well-celebrated artists, but they're artists that help affect the arts community," she said.
She doesn't charge artists for exhibiting their work but does take a commission fee for selling their pieces.
Luchese has always loved art.
"It's like breathing, you just do it," she said. "You don't think about it, you just do it."
Growing up in the Port Credit area, her mother was a seamstress and her dad a carpenter, and both inspired her creativity.
"We were makers," she said of her family upbringing. "And I like experimenting...."
When she was young she would often sneak off to play in her father's workshop, playing with pieces of wood to build her own masterpieces.
One day she got herself into trouble when she climbed on a bandsaw in the workshop, putting her in a body cast for six months. It was during this time she found a passion for drawing since it was the only thing she could physically do.
"I would just sit there and draw," she said.
When asked what her favorite type of medium to work with, she says she likes experimenting with all types: printmaking, sculplting, drawing, and painting.
"I like doing different things for different reasons," she said, but, "I think drawing is my favourite. I really love drawing. It is the foundation and the thread through it all," she said.
Luchese moved to Innisfil in 1987.
"I think I gravitate to water areas, it's really wonderful," she said.
She was in the fine arts industry before moving into graphic design. After her son graduated from university she decided to enroll at the Georgian College as a mature student for their Fine Arts program.
"I just loved it," she said about the program.
"Most of the instructors at Georgian were people that inspire and build the art community in Barrie," she said, noting they were all very supportive when she opened the Stroud gallery in 2020.
The gallery features two showcase areas, the main gallery and the BHCV gallery, which is named after special individuals who helped in bringing the space to life: William Blakey, Susan Hickling, Billi + Kayti Chttenden, and Bernice Vasey.
be contemporary gallery is located at 7869 Yonge St., Innisfil.
To learn more, visit their website here.
Gallery Hours -
Open Wednesday to Saturday, Noon to 5 p.m.
Booked Visits Only: In-Person now available, three people in the gallery at a time. Masks required and Social Distancing 2 M mandatory.
Order Online, Delivery, or Curb-side Pick-up Available
Call Jeanette Luchese at 705 431-4044
Luchese's work can also be found on her personal website, here.
