A new gallery has popped up in an off-the-beaten path section of downtown. Sandwiched in the triangle formed by the Lodge, I-75 and Grand River Ave.,
Our Gallery has opened its doors at 849 Henry St.
Proprietor Steven Kuypers, a fine arts student at College for Creative Studies, was scouring CraigsList for studio space when he stumbled upon what is now the not-for-profit gallery he is operating. "The owner of the space mentioned that he was always thinking
of putting a gallery there, and that’s where we got the idea," he says.
The 1,200-square-foot space has been designed to fill a gap for recently graduated art students. Kuypers has noticed that many fine arts galleries are looking to represent artists who have a couple of years of shows under their belts, which can be difficult for younger artists to achieve. Besides padding a C.V., the Our Gallery experience "is meant to give experience dealing with a gallery," he says. "This is not just putting on a one-night show -- it's more substantial."
The gallery's name is intentionally inclusive. "We wanted it to be a reference for the artists we've been showing," says Kypers. "When they're talking about it, we want them to feel like it's theirs in a way."
Shows will typically open on a Saturday and then be up for two Saturdays from 1 to 4 p.m.
Currently, a show by CCS graduate Wendy Ross is up until Oct. 25.
Source: Steven Kuypers, Our Gallery
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh
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