Jane MacDougald has spent the week carefully stopping the work of art that adorns the purple walls of her gallery, packed perfectly more than a decade of memories and decoration, a carefully selected piece piece.
The Dart gallery closes its doors this week after 12 years in Portland Street in the center of Dartmouth.
“It was overwhelming because you know, I have put a lot to make this space what it is,” MacDougald said last week, stop between local arts and jewels of art.
MacDougald said he was surprised when his lessor recently decided not to renew his lease.
Ian Stanley, owner of the building, said he tried to work with MacDougald and said an art gallery is “excellent for the community.” But he said that the rent he expected to pay was “road” under market value, and they could not reach an agreement.
The Dart gallery moves from its space in Portland Street after more than a decade in the center of Dartmouth. Haley Ryan informs.
Since he announced the closure on social networks, MacDougald said he has been overwhelmed by the messages of support.
“It’s really pleasant to listen, you know, how much people go to people,” MacDougald said, his voice breaking. “People, I think, are very sad to see him go.”
In addition to a place for artists to sell their work, the red gallery room, named for the red plywood floors dyed by hand, became a community center that organized everything, from live music, DJs and comedy, to black beauty events.
Macdould said he knows that art can sometimes feel inaccessible, and wanted to change that creating a vibrant and cozy space that “feels good to be.”
Lindsey Harrington, a presenter of a circle of writers in the gallery, said MacDougald achieved it more than that.
“We really had the complete game of artists … either, you know, the laureate poet of the city to someone who had never shared a poem before,” Harrington said about the Dart Speak event.
“The greatest gift that the Dart gallery gave me was a community.”
The Dart Gallery was among the first business wave to start the revitalization of Portland Street, which has become a vibrant section of coffees, restaurants and shops.
“She supported the center of Dartmouth a lot when no one else was. It’s really sad,” said Harrington.
MacDougald said he cannot receive too much credit for the work of other companies that followed her. But, remember to have waited to bring art and culture to the neighborhood where he lived could give him a sense of identity.
Tim Rissesco, CEO of the Business Commission of the Dartmouth Center, said the closure “leaves a hole for community meetings on the street.”
He hopes that Macdougald can finally reopen in a new location within the area, something that MacDougald said he also wants.
“I have met many wonderful, talented and friendly people and has really been a privilege,” Macdougald said. “I’ll miss seeing everyone so frequently, but you know, I’m not going to go anywhere.”
For now, Macdould said that he will offer local art through the website of his gallery and is interested in exploring a community land trust for the center of Dartmouth.
He pointed to Kensington Market Community Land Trust as a possible model. In that case, the members of the community group the resources to buy properties to prevent residential tenants and small businesses being expelled from the unique area.
