by Monica Chamness
Staff Writer
Pedestrian — A Gallery of Contemporary Art is scheduled to re-open Nov. 15 in Springfield.
Co-owners Jim Draper and Steve Williams, both artists themselves, have been marketing art work nationally and now want to bring their focus closer to home.
“Our business just got to the point where we were all over the country and we missed having a local connection,” said Draper.
“The reason we’re getting back into this is to make sure we take part in encouraging young talent here,” added Williams.
With the new venue comes a new mission. They intend to aggressively pursue corporate projects and the wholesale market.
Last year, the pair left their spot in Five Points and joined forces with colleagues Kim Vincenty and Marilyn Spiller to establish the spiller vincenty gallery on Kings Avenue. Now Draper and Williams have decided to take the urban pioneer approach, relocating their gallery to a work space on North Pearl Street. With 2,500 square feet of space, the gallery reflects their metropolitan tastes.
“This is a fun, eclectic neighborhood,” said Draper. “It’s a neighborhood of families and children. We’ve been here a year and a half and never had any problems. The stuff people are afraid of is pretty much gone. ”
No set format will be established for the gallery. There will be group shows, solo exhibitions and a variety of genres on display. The owners, are not hawking their own wares as much as they are fellow artists. Draper already sells well in the region and Williams is taking a sabbatical to produce large scale works suitable for big projects such as libraries.
“We are open to the most innovative, cutting-edge stuff of all media and styles,” explained Draper. “Being off the beaten path, we don’t have to kowtow to the mundane. We can have experiences that are going to be a little bit different. You limit yourself by setting arbitrary standards.”
“Our parameters are our own aesthetic,” added Williams. “Creatively and aesthetically, we have the same vision. Our aesthetic leans towards the intellectual, thought-provoking or pretty.”
Some emerging artists will be featured at the gallery, but the spotlight will be on top-notch, contemporary art. The two believe their travels while promoting art work nationally have built a steady network of artists to call upon. The plan is to have professional artists grace their walls to not only set an example of success for artists that are not so well-established, but to also generate a few dollars for the owners.
“When we first opened [in 1997], a local business newspaper said they wouldn’t do an article on us because they don’t consider art a business,” recalled Draper.
“Since that time, we’ve grown to where our business at retail does over a million dollars a year in export income. That’s pretty significant. Art is a small entrepreneurial-based business with high-end clientele all around the world. Art is a huge business. Jacksonville could capitalize on it instead of ignoring it.”
Draper and Williams consider themselves to be an art consulting firm that sells art to other galleries, matching pieces to fit someone’s home or working with architects and interior designers on large proposals.
Pedestrian’s grand re-opening is scheduled for Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. Their first show in the new space,“Manacles and Fetters,” will be unveiled, featuring artists Jonathan Lux and Ryan Rummel.
“We like to excite people about collecting original art,” said Williams.
“We’ve always been about getting the City to realize that the business of art — whether it be from purchasing, collecting, investing, creating, supporting — at all the different levels is a very strong and legitimate business that should be considered a significant local industry,” added Draper.
Before the big night begins, Pedestrian needs some finishing touches. Cosmetic details and lighting issues are all that remain to be completed. Once the gallery officially opens its doors, regular hours will be 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday and weekends by appointment. Shows will run anywhere from six weeks to two months. Upcoming events include “St. Johns River: An Artist’s Perspective” on Jan. 13 and Toe Five next summer.