At the end of the day, Danica Reyes just wants to tuck her children in at night.
As a fine art dealer in California hours of commuting made it difficult. So she moved back to her hometown of Lantzville.
“Being born here, it was inevitable I would come back,” said Reyes, adding that growing up in the community allowed her to see the “paradise” people enjoy in the area.
She said as an Island-born girl she grew up being exposed to local artists.
She couldn’t leave the art world behind her. It’s been a lifelong passion. So in January, Reyes opened the Lantzville Art Gallery.
“I am trying to support the emerging Canadian artists,” said Reyes.
She’s already gotten 16 artists to become exhibitors, including herself. She said it took her many years before she called herself an artist.
“It takes a certain strength and boldness to be different,” she said about being an artist. “You have to allow yourself to be an artist.”
Reyes works in acrylics, but also experiments with mixed media and pastels. She loves to use various colours and to challenge herself in her work.
Reyes said she’ll stop accepting applications from artists when she has 100 signed onboard.
“We’ll need that many in order for me to satisfy the diverse palate in the community,” she said.
The gallery’s main space is small but open with light flowing throughout the area thanks to fenestrations. In the back there is an exhibit space for solo exhibits or special presentations.
Reyes said Vancouver Island seems to attract artists from across Canada and internationally. One reason she believes so many artists congregate on Vancouver Island is because of the “relaxed lifestyle” with a focus on nature.
Reyes said most people buy art because they love it.
“It’s this organic thing where people see it and they buy it,” said Reyes.
She said the gallery also offers design consultation for buyers who want to integrate the piece into their home.
Reyes attended Vancouver Island University, then Malaspina College, and then went on to study at the Blanche MacDonald Centre for Fashion in Vancouver, the Copenhagen Business College in Denmark and Joanne Baron DW Brown Acting Academy in Santa Monica, Calif. She’s worked as a fine art dealer, broker, designer and actress.
At the Lantzville Art Gallery, she focuses on marketing, planning and strategy aspects.
“I like to help artists and empower them,” said Reyes.
She plans on creating community art projects in the future, but doesn’t want to create one similar to one already offered by another business in Lantzville.
“I want to be a complement to my community not a competitor,” said Reyes.
The Lantzville Art Gallery, located at 2-7217 Lantzville Rd., is open Wednesday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The gallery also offers private showings, outside business hours, by appointment only.
For more information or to apply to be a showing artist please call 778-269-2955 or go to https://lantzvilleartgallery.com.
arts@nanaimobulletin.com
