Not Just Another Gallery

There is no question that Martha’s Vineyard is a haven for artists. Everyone who lives here knows (or is) a painter, a potter, a writer or an actor. Luckily for us there are many spaces and venues in which we can enjoy each other’s art. However, if what we were looking for happens to be large-scale, contemporary art, we most likely have a trip to Boston or New York to plan.

Until now. To the relief of many art lovers, as well as many artists themselves, there is a space on Island to see such work. “A” Gallery opens Friday, July 6^th and hopes to show right from the start that it is not just another gallery. The 4,000 square foot space used to be part of and before that a Coca Cola warehouse, and it will eventually become part of the new Tisbury Farm Market. However, for the next few months Tanya Augoustinos and Maria Westby plan to use it to show a growing lists of Island artists, but also off-Island artists as well.

“We thought about moving off Island,” said Westby, “but we don’t want to live in New York City, we want to live here. This is our way of bringing New York City to the Island.”

The A Gallery has two very raw, open rooms in the warehouse space that is as close as you will get to the Chelsea art loft gallery feel on Martha’s Vineyard. The first show at A Gallery will feature the work of two Brooklyn artists Jennifer Delilah and Jeremy Wagner in the larger room, while the second room will include a preview of some the artists scheduled to show there this summer.

Jennifer Delilah’s technique includes the use of oils, encaustics, and watercolor, photography, sculpture, video, film and costume and set design. Her work challenges ideas of race, class and gender while always keeping a sense of humor and compassion and has been called “maximalist documents of everything of which human beings are capable, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the beautiful.”

Jeremy Wagner earned a BFA in printmaking from Rhode Island School of Design and an MFA in painting from Hunter College’s graduate program. His work combines his training in both concentrations, facilitating a unique approach to painting that often shows his appreciation for architecture and nature with a keen eye for detail. Many of Wagner’s pieces are done directly on steel surface and use non-traditional mediums such as rust and oil.

The artists showing in the second room include a long list of Island artists, many who rarely show here due to the lack of space appropriate for their art. For example, Westby said, “We’re thrilled to be showing Cindy Kane’s work here this summer because she almost never does large shows of her work on the Island. Same with Doug Kent

In addition to Kent and Kane, other artists showing as part of the preview are ◦

Rez Williams, Holly Sumner, Mariana Cook, Dan Van Landingham, Robert J.P. Hauck, Lily Morris, Andrea Mary Marshall, Valerie Sonnenthal, David Tierney, Camilla Westby / Camwest, Colin Ruel, Elissa Turnbell, Darcie Lee Hanaway, Fae Kontje, Jiyoung Park, , Tim Laursen, Emily Drazen and Vanessa Kent. “We started with a very small group of artists and the list gets longer every day. We couldn’t be happier about the response.”

Until 2007, Augoustinos ran e'kaya, the small gallery behind the . “We went from the smallest gallery on the Island to the biggest,” laughed Westby.

The gallery has brought in Sheldon Lapierre to assist with the curating and sales and they plan to have a busy summer full of collaborations with other art galleries like and . “It’s been really exciting, we’ve already come up with some great collaborations,” said Westby.

As of now, they plan to stay in the space through October 12^th.  After that? “We’ve got lots of ideas,” said Westby, “but first we have to see how we do.”

A Gallery Season Opening and Artist Reception takes place at 412 State Road, Vineyard Haven (located behind the new Tisbury Farm Market). Friday, July 6^th, 5 pm – 8 pm. Soundscapes by .