"~  Jpusinessman (he runs:a:successful

West Van gallery

to go no

n-profit

intellectual enterprise is secure, its functions are distinct.

[ N EUROPE where the tradition of the art gallery as an

Historically, it is perceived as a serious cultural entity,

an advance guard of society.”
Appearing in last summer's edi-
tion of the North Shore arts
bulletin, Focus, these are the
- observations of Ron Falcione,
director of West Vancouver’s
Gallery Alpha.

A graduate of Emily Carr College.

- and an art instructor at Capilano
College, Falcione is well qualified - .
to make such observations. But he
is not simply concerned with pass-

ing judgement on the history of
art. He is also making a plea for
the survival of his own gallery right

- here on the North Shore.

', Falcione has been running the

_ 44 For several

moriths (Falcione)
_ has been :

“threatening to |

: close the gallery”
down.

- Gallery Alpha‘out of his own)

we = pocket, literally, for the two years *

-. . sincé its inception: he has Jost. .
“almost $8,000. :This-has happened __
“not because Faicione isa bad’

-. picture-framing business next door
“to the gallery),. but because he is
_ determined to preserved a ° :
- “serious cultural entity” for the
+ promotion of professional con- .
‘ temporary art in West Vancouver. .:
» - Falcione is fiercely committed to
: the task of ‘‘resistingthe © °°;
"pressures of commercialization,”’ -

© Cap Theatre presents:

Archie Graham

' ART REVIEW

as he puts it, and to providing the
local public with “what's in-
novative in the arts.’”’ This makes
eminently good artistic sense, but
not, as Falcione readily admits, -
good business sense. in fact, for
several months he has been
threatening to close the gallery
down. .

But Falcione has too much
spunk to give up on a project that
is so important to him. So now the
gallery is in the midst of a
transformation that will make it el-
igible for government funding.

Complete with a president, sec-
retary, and board of directors, it

“: ‘will become a non-profit society,”
- owned and operated wholly by ar-

tists. . : .

“One can only hope that the new
democratic structure of the gallery
will not necessarily mean an ex-

* ‘cess of group shows, of which,

perhaps, there have been a few

_too many already at the Alpha.

» Agood group show can be
refreshing and exhilarating, but it

- is a difficuit scenario to orchestrate

and often ends up as an uneven

-and incoherent experience.
Perhaps in the move to a two-

-week schedule under the new

- administrative format, the gallery

will generate more solo exhib-
itions.
’ Whatever happens in this
regard, however, we should be
thankful that one of the North
Shore’s two venues for showing
serious art (the other being Pres-
entation House) is staying alive.
‘Alien Series by Leo Labelle
opens at the Alpha on Mar. 19.

‘Midsummer Night’s Dream

Adapted oy Stephen Atkins
_ Directed by Dawn Moore

Original Score by fan Schildt

-Set Design by Scott Richardson

. Produced by Bill Murdoch

& Visual! and Performing Arts students

Join us March 18 - 21 & 24 - 28

at 8:00 pm (Matinees 1:00 pm March 20 & 27)

in the Capilano College Theatre Studio R105

TICKETS:
Weekdays:
Adults
Students
Weekends:

Acvance:
$9.00
$7.00
$10.00

Atthe Door:
$10.00
$10.00
$12.00

Available at Beaver Foods, Humanities and Cap Corner

information and Reservations: 984-1720.

, " EWS photo Stuart
RON FALCIONE has been running West Van's Gallery Alpha out of his own pocket, literally, for the
past two years. In that time he has lost almost $8,000.

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