Brights Gallery — Attraction in The Blue Mountains

"You are free to browse but this is not your living room," said the salesman with gel curls to me and my elderly mother - who is coping with a short term disability. On my insistence, she had sat down on an empty chair for barely 3 minutes to view the second half of the Gordon Harrison display. It was the first time in weeks that my mother left the house and the first place I brought her was this gallery, because we are fond art people. I thought we would leave energized and inspired. What a mistake.

The gallery was empty except for us, so there were no barriers for this man to extend us his choice words, in his non chalant tone. The clear ring of superiority echoed in the room. I guess we appeared inferior to him.

After that insulting statement we left immediately.

As a family we are hugely in to arts, as patrons, enablers, collectors, teachers and artists. My mother runs an art department at a school with 1000+ students and boarders. She is on the board of a citywide biennale, with participating artists from all over the world, including Canada. She organizes exhibitions, classes, and connects people all the time. We had heard G. Harrison was in the area.

The last time I visited brights gallery was nov 2020 - I had a wonderful experience with a sales lady who insisted I take a piece home to consider. It was a snowstorm in an urban setting, a figure walking under street lights. Gorgeous work. I often think about it.

Anyway, that beautiful art experience has been shot down by this one. I am disgusted.

Artists should know who is representing their work in...

I go to a lot of galleries and always discuss the art with the people working there. I went a couple days ago and tried to make conversation with the lady working there but she was very short in her responses and I could tell she wanted me out of there. I went back today and took pictures, I quickly deleted them after being asked to, as I didn’t see the sign and I wanted to be respectful. The attendants at galleries are usually knowledgeable about the artist’s work and invite conversations about the art in hopes of getting the buyer interested in purchasing. She didn’t seem to want the couple coming in after me in the gallery either. I wonder how long these paintings sit in there after interested buyers are shooed away by this woman. All of the art on display was marvellous and I hope to own some Nemo pieces in the future. I recommend hiring someone with a genuine love for art that doesn’t dread talking...

We stopped by the Gallery on Jan 2, 2023 as we usually do when we visit the village. The lady behind the desk was indifferent that we entered and not one word was spoken to welcome us or while we were browsing.

We ventured to the back of the gallery and I conversed with my son, "maybe we should buy another sculpture (Cathy Mark) since we always buy something from here when we visit." I was literally looking at her at this point to which we got the cold shoulder and no response, only navigating websites on the computer frantically to look busy. We departed the gallery shortly after.

Dissapointing.

We will visit Collingwood/Blue Mountain again in the future. Please just remember that these types of purchases are very emotional ones and not transactional. The connections with the art can easily be destroyed by a bad experience and a major disservice to the artist...