The Grand Gallery pop-up brings local art to downtown
- 15 hours ago
- 3 min read
Rubyyy Jones
Cultural Correspondent
Downtown Paris has almost everything you need for everyday shopping, services of all kinds and special spots for every occasion. Until recently, however, it had been missing one thing: the magic of an art gallery showcasing the many talented artists and makers from Paris and Brant.
The Grand Gallery opened on Wednesday July 1st for a month long pop-up event at Rebel & Royal. Prinx Lydia the tailor and stitcher had to move their business temporarily to St Paul’s United Church due to the downtown construction, and so the space at 119 Grand River St North has been transformed to bring energy and further engagement for local and tourists.
Featuring 16, local, professional artists, and eight kids from the 4H Brant’s Photography Club, The Grand Gallery is an eclectic showcase of rural talent and the collective expertise at work in the County.
There are artists of many kinds on display. Deborah Downey is an award-winning soft sculpture artist whose work is posthumously being shared with the world by their dedicated daughter Vanessa Simone. Downey’s sculpture ‘Druscilla The Book Dragon’ is on display and is accompanied by a log of her nine month creation process, references and material choices. Three tattoo artists from Knightfall Tattoo are sharing prints of their body art for your wall. Self taught artist Sarah Bailey of Sarrox Inc has loaned the gallery several pieces to show, including their uncanny, hand sculpted, bust of Walter Gretzky.
Young photographers from 4-H Brant's Photography Club are each showcasing a favourite image captured under the guidance of facilitator and organizer Karen Condon. Their work has been impressing both Parisians and visitors with its creativity, composition and charm. Congratulations to Brielle (12), Stella (12), Grace (11), Ariel (9), James (12), Macy (15) and Jacob (13) — keep up the great work! The remaining artists featured in the gallery are all based in the County of Brant or have close local ties, with each bringing a distinctive style, exceptional talent and a unique perspective to their work.
The pop-up gallery is only open for the month, making it a rare opportunity to experience this collection of local talent under one roof. Whether you're an art enthusiast, looking for a unique gift, or simply curious to discover the creativity flourishing in your own community, the gallery is well worth a visit. With something new to catch your eye around every corner, visitors are encouraged to stop in, take their time, and support the artists helping bring this unique downtown space to life.
Catch the special Grand Gallery tours happening on Saturday July 18th from 10 am to 2 pm, one hour time slots where you will get a tour of the artists and artworks and are then given space to explore, enjoy, chat with the artists and purchase something that catches your eye. RSVP are required but the tours are free. Pick your timeslot online https://tinyurl.com/GrandGalleryTours.
On one day only, Friday July 24th, don’t miss a special event called Paris Lates where The Grand Gallery will be open till 10 pm. There will be light refreshments, opportunities to meet the artists, live performance art and plenty of other creative surprises at Rebel & Royal, downtown Paris' growing hub for arts and culture.
The Grand Gallery pop-up wraps up on July 31, just ahead of the Downtown Paris Art Crawl on Saturday, Aug. 1, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., when artists, interactive activities and creative experiences will fill the downtown Promenade and spill throughout the core.
While the pop-up exhibition is coming to an end, the future of The Grand Gallery looks brighter — and longer-lasting — than originally envisioned.
The Grand Gallery is open Wednesday to Friday 11 am to 4 pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 12 pm to 6 pm.
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