Amy Anthony, Times Correspondent
In Print: Tuesday, November 11, 2008
From left, Dade City artists Suzanne Lasher, Sandra Lallemand and Karen Phillips discuss some of the work submitted for Dade City’s new gallery, which opens Friday.
DADE CITY — Right now, it's an empty building on Seventh Street. But by Friday night, it could be the center of a new artistic universe in east Pasco.
Thanks to the Dade City Youth Council, and City Commissioner Camille Hernandez and her husband, David, a group of artists from in and around Dade City will have a new gallery to showcase their work.
The collaboration started when painter Suzanne Lasher was approached by Camille Hernandez, her neighbor, about organizing the gallery. Hernandez, a facilitator for the Dade City Youth Council, was excited to have an artist take on the responsibility of organizing other artists.
Lasher, who recently moved to Dade City after spending 30 years living and working as an artist in Norway, was eager to draw upon her experience abroad.
"When Camille approached me about the gallery, I knew I was too busy to open and run a gallery by myself," says Lasher, who works every day on her art. "But I knew that an artist collective could run a gallery."
So Lasher reached out to two local artists she knew, Pat Weaver and Karen Phillips, to form a local collective that would take care of the practical aspects of organizing and running a gallery.
For the past month, the collective, which now consists of 20 local artists — all but two live in Dade City — has been meeting at Lasher's home to discuss the upcoming opening as well as the artwork selection.
"We're aiming for high-quality work," says Lasher, who organized a judging committee of collective members.
"We judge the submissions and we feel entitled to say no to certain submissions," she says.
The gallery will feature local artwork in various forms, from the sculptures of artist and metalsmith Lewis Riggleman, to Phillips' watercolor paintings.
"Showing your work is part of art," says Phillips, an art professor at Saint Leo University. "If you just have it in your house, that's not art."
This past week, Lasher and the judging committee have been finalizing their selections as well as transferring the artwork from Lasher's home to the gallery on Main Street. A lot of the final preparations will involve the proper hanging and labeling of the artwork.
"Suzanne has educated me in the art of hanging artwork," says David Hernandez. "We know that revitalizing urban settings begins with the arts. We're hoping to generate a spark in the community, and also to bring young people into downtown."
Camille Hernandez agrees.
"A lot of people are thirsty for this," she says. "It's also great for the upcoming holiday season."
"Hopefully, we're all winners," says David Hernandez. "The Youth Council will benefit, the artists will benefit and Dade City will benefit. It's something we need during the tough economic times."
Lasher is also excited about what the gallery could mean for downtown.
"It's not good for a culture to have empty buildings downtown," says Lasher, who likens the empty space to a "New York-style loft."
"Also, it's a nice activity for the holidays, something interesting and different," she says.
"It's a good opportunity," says Phillips. "And if we sell something, all the better."
>>The opening
The gallery unveiling is Friday
"The Gallery" in Dade City is at 14125 Seventh St. The grand opening is from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday. For more information, call Camille Hernandez at (352) 529-5050.
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