GALLERY ALPHA invitations now mementoes of the West Van- couver alternative space (1990-1992). Alpha and omegai Gallery Alpha closes its doors ‘ NEWS photo Clady Goodman TS DEMISE on the very eve of its second anniversary may well prove as inauspicious an event to some as it appeared inevitable to others. All who valued it as a venue for serious art, who organized and curated its shows, who volun- teered their time to keep its doors open io the public, who rallied in its support — both financial and spiritual — now rnourn its passing. They were our benefactors. Those who should have known better, whose jab and official re- sponsibility it was to be cognizant of the value and importance such resources as West Vancouver's Gallery Atpha accorded were, in the final analysis, either blind or unsympathetic to its obvious achievements. Consequently, they turned a deaf ear to its appeal for assistance. Their lack of vision is our loss. Gallery Alpha was clearly a unique phenomenon on the North Shore. During its brief existence, it pro- vided an unparalleled cultural ser- vice. But it was not a phenomenon without precedent. Ina very real sense, it was the spiritual offspring of Robert David- son's Gallery Move which likewise managed to survive two years in its unlikely location on upper Lonsdale in North Vancouver. Gallery Alpha was created by me and Charles Keillor in the spring of 1990 to fill the decade- long void left by the disap- pearance of Gallery Move. Like its predecessor, Gallery Alpha was an alternative gallery dedicated to the advancement of innovative contemporary art. To convey Gallery Ailpha’s con- ceptual underpinnings adequately one may imagine a kind of intel- lectual hybrid amalgamating Paul Wong's original Bau-Xi Gallery as it existed two decades ago on Ron Fatciani ART REVIEW Hamilton Street with Sean Frank's Smash Gallery on Cordova, a “counter-culture’’ gallery whose inception coincided with Gallery Alpha’s. Throughout its tenure, Gallery Alsha maintained a balanced ex- hibition program that alternated solo and concept-oriented group exhibitions in its commitment to serve and enlighten the North Shore public. The degree to which it succeed ed can be fairly gauged by the repeated and affirmative critical response it received from Anne ‘Rosenburg of the Vancouver Sun, Art Perry of the Province and, of course, Archie Graham and Evelyn Jacob of our own newspaper. But the real critical acclaim only began early in 1991 when Gregg Sirapson of the old Gallery Move Alumni replaced Charles Keillor as co-director. In rapid succession two other directors were recruited: West Vancouver's Jim Felter who directed Simon Fraser University’s art gallery for 16 years and the ubiquitous Ed Varney, artist and co-inventor of Intermedia Press, who with Anne Rosenburg was See Gallery page 28 § Wednesday, August 5, 1992 - North Shore News - 25 Photo Motion sale to raise funds PORTRAITS OF Leonard Cohen, Norman McLaren and Liz Magor are only some of the photographs on = sale this weekend at Granville Island. Presentation House Gallery has organized a special four-day photo sale as a fundraiser for its landmark fall exhibition entitled, Motion and Document/Sequence and Time: Eadweard Muybridge and Contemporary American Photography. All proceeds will help bring this exhibit to Vancouver. The “Photo Mation’’ under $100 artists’ proof sale also features work by Arnaud Maggs, Sorel Cohen, Robert Keziere, Gay Block, Art Perry and Jan Westendorp, and many renown- ed artists, including Vancouver photographers Christos Dikeakos, Chick Rice, Sandra Semchuk and lan Wallace. Collector's photo T-shirts will also be up for sale. A sneak preview of Photo Mo- tion is available for Presentation House members only, on Aug. 6 from 11 a.m. to noon. The regular exhibit com- mences at noon at 1241 Cart- wright Street, opposite the Gran- ville island Hotel. For more information phone 986-1351. The Prospect Point Cafe In Stanley Park Large BRIDGESIDE DECK’s DINNER Enjoy a delicious, live, Whole. Dungeness Crab. entree for_only $9.95 : on our outdoor deck or in the ‘dining room . not included. No coupons Reservations recommended 669-2737