Date: Fri 27-Mar-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNO

Quick Words:

Gallery-13-Durante-Pomeroy

Full Text:

A Second Life For An Underground Art Space [Gallery 13]

(with cuts)

BY SHANNON HICKS

DANBURY -- A breath of fresh air has been pumped into the local art scene,

thanks to the resurrection of a gallery dedicated to presenting shows by young

artists.

Four years and nearly 40 shows ago, Gallery 13 was created by eight artists.

The idea was to have a showplace for artists who had yet to be "discovered by

the big guys," as one board member puts it. The gallery was completely

artist-run, and shows featured works with the constant emphasis on original

creations.

Located on a side road off Main Street in the section of town the city has

dubbed CityCenter -- the heart of Danbury's arts/entertainment and restaurant

section -- "13" took up residence at 13 Library Place. The gallery continued

to present new and inventive shows, developing a dedicated following in the

visitors who turned out to support the underground gallery as well as the

curiosity-seekers.

Unfortunately, the number of artists who were able to commit themselves to

running 13 eventually dwindled down to three people -- Dan Bishop, Chris

Durante and Tim Heireth -- and the concept of an artistic hub for the Danbury

community became seriously jeopardized.

"It just got to the point where we couldn't keep it running financially

anymore," Chris Durante said this month. "It was never meant to be a

money-making venture -- the money always came out of our pockets." The gallery

continues to run solely on the contributions of its directors and patrons, who

divide rent and utilities expenses between them.

"When there is more people putting [money] in, it's a little easier. It was

just a question of getting new people involved, of bringing some things to the

table," Mr Durante continued. Essentially, the word went out that 13 would

have additional involvement from the artistic community or the gallery would

cease to exist.

"The first thing I found, and I was really touched by this, was the sheer

volume of people who said `Oh you can't close!'" Mr Durante said. It took a

while for people to step up and realize the commitment it takes to run a

gallery, he continued, but once people began seeing how close the gallery was

to closure, new directors arrived.

13 never completely closed, but for a few months last year -- before the

gallery's directorship, and the interior of the gallery itself -- went through

an overhaul, 13's future was really up in the air. A show was confirmed for

December 1997, but after that, the future remained uncertain.

13 is now run by an eight-member board of directors. Seven of the directors --

Mr Bishop, Nina Carlson, Mr Durante, Mr Heireth, Rob Jacobsen, J.W. (Jim)

Morgan and Jennifer Lee Pomeroy -- have works in the current show. The eighth

director is Chris Dubos, who is a non-artist member. The gallery also has two

patrons, who support 13 financially but do not participate in gallery

decisions.

Last November, the first meeting of what has become the new board of directors

was held. The December show was presented, and then during January and

February, the gallery went through a full-scale reconstruction. The first

change visitors now encounter when entering the storefront gallery is the

brightness of the showplace. The formerly dark entryway is now lit, and works

are hanging in the vestibule.

Inside, the walls are bright and again, the space is much more inviting for

visitors to the gallery.To reintroduce 13 to the world, the directors decided

to present a group show featuring their own works. Earlier this month, nearly

300 people showed up for the grand reopening of the gallery. The evening

doubled as the opening reception for "Director's Show," an exhibition that

served to introduce the public to the gallery's new staff as well as to

reacquaint gallery visitors with some familiar faces.

"The whole deal now," says Mr Morgan, "basically, is renewed. There is a

renewed energy. We're all very much keyed for what we've been doing here.

The gallery's mission, say its directors, is to include a view of the past as

well as present a positive outlook toward the community's future as a diverse

mecca for the arts.

"We want people to see how beautiful art is, in any form," said Jennifer

Pomeroy.

Shows are presented on a monthly basis, with the first Friday of each month

reserved for the shows' opening receptions. In the past, openings were held on

Thursday evenings, but the move to Friday gives the receptions two positive

additions: the possibility of more foot traffic already in the area, and the

availability for more people to drive further distances to attend an evening

opening without having to worry about having to wake up early the next morning

to get to work.

Appropriately called "First Fridays," the receptions run from 7 to 9 pm -- a

good time to catch after-dinner crowds or some of the early crowds spending a

few hours in the center of Danbury on a weekend night. The next "First Friday"

will be next week. On April 3, the gallery will present the opening of

"Imagerata," with photography, monotypes and paintings by three female

artists. In May, 13 will offer an exhibition featuring three artists from the

Manhattan gallery Subculture.

Right now, exhibitions have been scheduled through the end of July. The board

of directors has decided not to fill the schedule too far in advance, to allow

for the chance of a last-minute decision or the sudden availability of an

artist.

"We could have booked the full year by now, but we put a cap on it," said Mr

Heireth. "This gives us some leverage, some surprise."

The directors will be taking turns curating shows. Live music will be included

in most First Friday receptions. In addition to presenting art, 13's directors

want their gallery to become a learning center for the community. There are

hopes to begin lectures, and even some classes, in the future.

As a group, the board of any gallery needs to have a singular focus for any

project. At this gallery, the idea has always been about new, unusual, and of

course, art. The board members all speak in agreement when asked about the

future of 13.

"This place is really going now," said Mr Morgan. "It has the potential to

hatch a lot of eggs."

Admirers of undiscovered art can breath a sigh of relief.

"This place certainly isn't going away," vows Mr Bishop. "That's for sure."