Fredericton galleries open up with fall art hop

Fredericton’s Downtown Gallery Hop features local talent and aims to inspire other artists and art lovers.

Fredericton residents are invited to enjoy the crisp fall air and explore vibrant art in the city’s downtown core Thursday evening.

The Downtown Gallery Hop, which runs from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., features exhibitions at six galleries across Fredericton.

Participating galleries include:

• Gallery 78: Alexandrya Eaton’s “In the Pink” and Céline Genest’s “Métaphores et mythes” exhibitions will be on display. Arts educator Emma Connors will also offer an experimental mark-making workshop.
• Charlotte Street Arts Centre: Work created during the City of Fredericton and Fredericton Arts Alliance summer artist residency programs will be on display.
• George Fry Gallery: Work from NBCCD graduates will be featured in an Alumni Show exhibition.
• The Artisan District: The gallery will celebrate its fourth birthday with two fall centrepieces from Jessie Gagne.
• Beaverbrok Boutique: Ceramicist Shinaid Jane Grace will host a trunk show.
• Gallery on Queen: Chris Giles will provide music for patrons as they explore the space.

Downtown Fredericton executive director Adam Peabody says the even is a great chance for galleries to show off their artists and credits the galleries for keeping the gallery hop fresh.

“We have so much talent here in our small downtown area that is just bursting with excitement and opportunities for the public to engage in those artistic creations, to engage with artists themselves, and kind of get a sense of how the magic happens behind the scenes,” said Peabody.

“Maybe they have an opportunity to participate in one of those artistic workshops or get a chance to connect with folks that are fellow lovers of the artistic community and offerings here in downtown Fredericton.”

Fall is the perfect time of year for a gallery hop, according to Gallery 78 sales and communications manager Sophie Theriault. “It’s a great opportunity I find for people who might not have ever stepped foot in a gallery to, you know, just have this really fun, low commitment kind of event,” she said.

“You can go in at your own pace, you can stay as long as you’d like in certain places or, you know, maybe go very quickly throughout. It’s totally up to you.”

She adds, as a community, people should work together to make art more accessible.

“It’s (the gallery hop) a wonderful way for people in the community to get to know artists, to get to know what’s going on, to sort of see the vibrancy, especially at young ages as well. Whether you’re coming with your family and with your children, it’s a really wonderful way to come together as a community,” she said.

Galleries in the city are flourishing, which Artisan District owner and curator Andrea Miller attributes to the love of art in the community.

“It’s such an arts and culture-oriented city. Whether it’s performing arts, or music, or the visual arts, it’s just incredible to think that there’s something going on in this city all the time that somebody can participate in.”

For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.