Galleryonthe pond
owned by Brad Ruelens :
“Icebergs, I am a photographer, I was leaving Toronto and I thought it would be nice to go see some icebergs, so I got on a plane and flew to Gander, rented a car and drove to Twillingate. The knowledge of the Fogo island was only that I had heard about the The Inn.
And why a gallery on Fogo Island and for whom?
“The gallery will create a comfortable environment to display current and future artists of Fogo Island and Canada. Artists who gravitate to Fogo Island will experience her natural subtle colours and the light values that will mesmerize, and in turn create fine art imaging, that needs to be seen and purchased by customers.
All travellers to Fogo Island and local residents will be our prospective customers. They have the same desire as the artist; to experience those natural subtle colours, the spectacular light and her sincere peoples. Also, there are and will be new settlers to Fogo Island who will all have walls to decorate; we would love our art to adorn their walls.
We will feature artists in all mediums. There will not only be wall art works, there will be a new media wall, independent sculpture stations, creative fabric displays, my own photography, and exclusive art showcasing other artists. I will be working with other artists, I’m really thrilled about that. We have even booked an International Fine Art Photography show for 2023.”
What else will you offer at the Gallery?
“We will offer a display section featuring some of the other galleries and craft shops , this will be samples only and in turn, drive the business back to their galleries. . There will be a card underneath it with the details of the artists and businesses and where they can be found. As the island grows and more creative people land here on the North Atlantic, we will introduce a full photo studio, digital copy station and high-resolution colour printer, for artists to access. A full social media and web presence will be created to assist in sales and world-wide recognition. A future Gallery on the Pond Artist Alliance will be created to assist artists on the island any way we can and we will offer to artists and photographers the digital printing service for big colour prints and copy work. If an artist wants a copy of their work to put out digitally, we can do it.
Brad will also be offering to people who are newly building and renovating his Interior design services.
I asked Brad to tell us about the gallery, its location and its history?
“The Gallery on the Pond used to be the United Church Hall in Barr’d Islands, across the road from the big stone church which was deconsecrated many years ago. The name of the gallery we think is cool because it is by the pond, (Fosters) but also on the Atlantic Ocean which has the nickname of The Pond.”
Brad shows the diagrams and blue print of the gallery. The windows and doors were made in Placentia, the strapping, siding, flooring was locally sourced from Cottlesville and Stoneville.
“I’m proud of that, it’s important to use local product. It’s close and has less carbon foot print so we all save..”
He shows me heaps of lumber which will be used for the walkway around the gallery.
“It will all be rubberized paint on the wood, so the building will last forever; anywhere apart from the stain is rubberized paint. The whole deck will be rubber
He shows me around the gallery inside explaining things as he goes.
”This is me, every inch is something, that’s how my creative mind works especially in small spaces.
I see this as The Mews of Fogo Island. (A mews being a street or small area surrounded by a collection of houses, (Collins English Dictionary). The Mews will be The Gallery on the Pond, the old church now named The Blocks, rock) and The Wedge which is a contemporary wedge shaped work shop outside my house.
“ we welcome all to visit and fall in love with the Art of the Island, Province and Country.”