LISSA ALEXANDER
reporter@pqbnews.com
While helping build frame shops with art galleries across the country, Marlowe Goring began to formulate how his own shop would look in his mind. Many years later his dreams have come to fruition with the Art Worx Gallery in Qualicum Beach.
“I always thought if I was building mine, I‘d do this, I‘d do this and I’d do this — we’ve implemented a lot of the ideas I’ve had in here,” said the owner of the new gallery and frame shop, located across from the Liquor Store in Qualicum Beach.
The Art Worx Gallery is a collection of stunning fine art, the majority created by local artists, with West Coast scenes, provocative mixed media, dynamic sculptures and intricate jewelry. Some of the features Goring was thrilled to implement are moveable walls, UV lighting, an angled floor and a bright framing area.
Goring was raised in Black Diamond, Alberta, a small town where he didn’t come in contact with much art. And although he never had the urge to create art himself, he was always drawn to it, he said.
“The talent is just awe-inspiring,” he said. “Some make you smile, some make you cry.”
After working with U-Frame-It Gallery for years as a custom framer, Goring opened Qualicum Frameworks and ran that gallery and frame shop for 12 years. During that time, Goring attracted top notch artists like the ones he sells today: impressionistic painter Sally Laidlaw, celebrated landscape artist Bill Townsend and the late Norval Morrisseau, an aboriginal artist known as the Picasso of the North.
“He’s just an icon,” said Goring. “He started the woodlands movement of art, so we carry more of his stuff than probably anybody else in B.C.”
Goring’s most popular artist, however, is local west coast landscape artist, Allan Dunfield.
Working with Goring at the new space is his girlfriend and manager Suzanne Tonna and 19-year-old framer (working with Goring for 3 years) Tyson Imber.
What Goring is most proud of with his new location is the incredible meeting place he has created for artists and the public to congregate, he said. A place where the people can come to get to know the artists whose work they buy.
“It’s neat that I can facilitate that,” he said. “That’s truly what it’s all about.”
From Friday, April 12 to the 26 Art Worx will host Lush Art Show, featuring local artists Susan McLennan, Chris Kazeil and Leslie Gregory. An opening night to meet the artists, happens at the gallery April 12 from 7 to 10 p.m.
In about six months time, Goring hopes to have a small restaurant and wine bar in the gallery.
The Art Worx Gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
For more information visit www.artworxgallery.com or call 250-752-7350.