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Bowen Island is getting a new contemporary art space

Scott Massey’s gallery and studio launches May 12
Scott Massey hangs one of his works
Massey says that scientific curiosity informs his works.

Power tools in the back, canvases in the front — there’s a new contemporary art space coming to Bowen Island.

When interdisciplinary artist Scott Massey wanted to move his personal studio from Vancouver to Bowen Island, finding a space was a problem. But when Wren’s former space in Artisan Square became available, Massey got to thinking.

“It was bigger than what we had thought,” says Massey, looking into the room with freshly painted white walls.

Instead of looking for a different place, Massey rejigged his plan.

“We 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, ‘You know what, let's just be the people who do that.’” 

When Massey doesn’t need the space for his own studio work, he’ll 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’s been reaching out to see who may want a show on Bowen. “The exhibitions will be organized by outside curators,” 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’s thinking about three weeks per exhibit. As well, he doesn’t intend to charge entry fees because, really, he’d need the studio space anyway.

The first artist’s exhibit in the gallery, however, will be Massey’s. It opens on Saturday.

“This will be the first and last time my work will be exhibited like this,” he emphasized.

Scott Massey with one of his art pieces.Leaning up against the walls are canvases with what appear to be photographs, though Massey is quick to say that they’re a lot more than that.

 

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’s borosilicate glass (which is heat resistant) with nichrome wires mounted on the wooden plate – an infinity symbol surrounded by a ring. When it’s hooked up, the infinity symbol and ring will glow.

“I’ve never been interested in art for art’s sake,” he says. His art is informed by a deep scientific curiosity, especially in cosmology and astrophysics.

“I want to make this really an interesting space for opening up the dialogue, for Bowen, but also beyond,” he said.

 

The launch of Massey’s gallery and studio is May 12, from 3 to 5 p.m. at 569 Artisan Lane.