Grandiose Galleria

In the art game, size matters. Just ask John Webster, owner of Calgary’s Webster Galleries.

The 10,000 square feet of exhibition space afforded Webster by his 11 Avenue edifice allows him to display the work of 80 artists at any given time — a staggering number compared to conventional gallery standards, and one that he says makes his gallery “not just a mom and pop operation.”

“This gallery’s so big that we can show everybody on the wall, all the time,” he says. “So it’s a different approach.”

Living in Iqaluit, Webster began selling Inuit art to other galleries in 1971. By 1979, he had moved to Calgary to open his own gallery. Today he features nationally and internationally recognized Canadian artists of all stripes, whose work varies in medium from oil and watercolour paintings to stone and ceramic sculpture.

Key to his success, he says, is the high regard Webster has for his clientele. He prides himself on honesty and straightforwardness when selling, meaning what you see is what you get. “You have to sell legitimately,” he says, referring to a practice in which galleries will mark unsold pieces as “sold” in an attempt to stir up interest. “The general public doesn’t really buy that (tactic) anymore… Sometimes you have to bend over backwards. I have customers who are considered royalty to the gallery.”

In late September Webster will expose his regal clientele to the work of Ukrainian ex-pat Igor Postash, appropriately titled, “The Strange World of Igor Postash.” Postash’s collection of figurative and humourist oil paintings will be on display from Sept. 19 to Oct. 16.

Also in September, the Webster Gallery will offer art lovers the chance to meet artist Ken Kirkby, renowned for his interpretations of inukshuks and other symbols of the Canadian North. Kirkby will be on hand Sept. 19 to sign copies of his new book, Ken Kirkby: A Painter’s Quest for Canada.

Come October, work from Norval Morrisseau, also known as “the Picasso of the North” will populate the gallery. Characterized by thick black outlines and colourful characters (see above), Morrisseau’s work reflects various themes close to the late painter’s life, including the inherent tension between Native Canadian and European traditions. Morrisseau was a stalwart of the Aboriginal art scene whose creations are not to be missed. His works will be on display from Oct. 3 to 30.

As the snow begins to fall, the gallery shifts its focus to Canada’s sprawling landscapes. From Nov. 7 to 27, The Fall Landscape Show will feature a slew of works by more than two dozen artists (including the aforementioned Ken Kirkby). Though each piece varies in medium, they share a common subject: the breathtaking beauty of Canada’s natural landscapes. •

For more information about Webster Galleries, visit webstergalleries.com.