Power tools in the back, canvases in the front 鈥� there鈥檚 a new contemporary art space coming to Bowen Island.
When interdisciplinary artist Scott Massey wanted to move his personal studio from 麻豆传媒映画to Bowen Island, finding a space was a problem. But when Wren鈥檚 former space in Artisan Square became available, Massey got to thinking.
鈥淚t was bigger than what we had thought,鈥� says Massey, looking into the room with freshly painted white walls.
Instead of looking for a different place, Massey rejigged his plan.
鈥淲e had been talking for the last couple of years, on and off at dinner parties and things like that, that we need someplace to see contemporary work. This kind of came up like, 鈥榊ou know what, let's just be the people who do that.鈥欌�澨�
When Massey doesn鈥檛 need the space for his own studio work, he鈥檒l turn it into a gallery, which he calls Terminal Creek Contemporary.
In more than a decade of being a professional artist, Massey has amassed a network of potential curators and artist residents. He鈥檚 been reaching out to see who may want a show on Bowen. 鈥淭he exhibitions will be organized by outside curators,鈥� he said.
While Massey is in the venture solo, he has a support system of his wife and daughter, with whom he has lived on the island for three years.
Massey says that at the moment, he鈥檚 thinking about three weeks per exhibit. As well, he doesn鈥檛 intend to charge entry fees because, really, he鈥檇 need the studio space anyway.
The first artist鈥檚 exhibit in the gallery, however, will be Massey鈥檚. It opens on Saturday.
鈥淭his will be the first and last time my work will be exhibited like this,鈥� he emphasized.
Leaning up against the walls are canvases with what appear to be photographs, though Massey is quick to say that they鈥檙e a lot more than that.
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Beyond visual art, Massey also builds sculptures, which is why he needs tools. But, the sculptures are not marble busts.
Massey pulls out what looks like some wires on a wooden plate covered by glass. Upon closer inspection, it鈥檚 borosilicate glass (which is heat resistant) with nichrome wires mounted on the wooden plate 鈥� an infinity symbol surrounded by a ring. When it鈥檚 hooked up, the infinity symbol and ring will glow.
鈥淚鈥檝e never been interested in art for art鈥檚 sake,鈥� he says. His art is informed by a deep scientific curiosity, especially in cosmology and astrophysics.
鈥淚 want to make this really an interesting space for opening up the dialogue, for Bowen, but also beyond,鈥� he said.
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The launch of Massey鈥檚 gallery and studio is May 12, from 3 to 5 p.m. at 569 Artisan Lane.
