EVELYN JACOB spotlight feature Pam McColl wants to remove art’s elitist image | N 1984, a small group rT of commercial galleries in Seattle’s historic Pio- neer Square decided to stay orz.n past their usual hours in an attempt to raise zwareness of the local arts, and by extension, to sell their stock. That event became a monthly tradition called First Thursday. and last year the idea caught on in Vancouver. On the first Thursday of each month, 65 Vancouver gal- leries now keep their doors open after hours, and so far, the con- cept is shaping up to be fairly suc- cessful. But according to West Van- couver art consultant Pam McCoil, who is organizing the upcoming Art Vancouver ‘90, most people still have difficulty feeling com- fortable in gallery settings, which isn’t exactly conducive to improv- ing sales. “The general population is in- timidated by art galleries,” says McColl, 32, who notes that buying art is no less easy a task: most people know what they like, but they haven't got a clue about in- vesting in art. To make the buying of art a less exclusive practice, McColl has or- ganized a Nov. 2 to 4 showcase of original artwork by Vancouver's visual artists at the Robson Square Media Centre as part of Art Van- couver Week. It’s called Art Vancouver ’90, a three-day event that brings together professional artists, galler- ies, art dealers, cultural organiza- tions and the design and business communities in a single location. It’s being billed as ‘a con- sumer art fair,’ a place where people can view, in a relaxed en- vironment, a broad sampling of the kind of works available in the city without feeling intimidated. NEWS photo Mike Wakeficid PAM MCCOLL is the organizer of the upcoming Art Vancouver '90, a first annual event featuring 2 three-day showcase of the Vancouver professional art market. McColl has gathered an im- pressive array of local artists, both established and emerging, in- cluding those who otherwise wouldn't exhibit in Vancouver. Vancouver sculptor David Mar- shall, West Vancouver portrait painter Suzanna Blunt, painters Lori Goldberg and Drew Burnham are some of the artists taking part. Atthe time of the interview McColl was still running around trying to put all the last-minute details in order. She's selected all of the participants and taken care of the advertising — which was paid for out of her own pocket. This first-time event seems a daunting challenge, but McColl assures she won't lose her shirt. Art Vancouver °90 has a full slate of participating artists and has al- ready accumulated a waiting list for 1991, When it comes to West Coast art, McColl is no ingenue. For the past five years she and her com- pany Art At Work Ltd. have transformed the sterile walls of both the corporate and health care sectors using a variety of posters, prints, sculptures, and original art. Some of her clients have includ- ed Lions Gate Hospital, Grace Hospital and University Hospital. McColl was responsible for choos- ing art for LGH’s new maternity ward, which now houses calming and cheerful prints, posters and paintings in its hallways, delivery room, and nursing and lounge areas. "Being in a hospital can bea very impersonal experience,’ says McColl, “‘There’s nothing worse than being left in a bed ina hallway next to a photocopier — not a very friendly object. Whereas paintings reach out, they See McColl page 24 SALE Starting November 1/90 EVERYTHING MUST GO UPTO 75% orr Outstanding Credit notes will be Honored up to Dec. 15/90 CHIMERA LINGERIE 1441 Marine Dr., West Vancouver 926-2530 ri Wednesday, October 31, 1990 - North Shore News - 23 CHRISTMAS FAIRS STARTING NOV. 2 IN CLASSIFIEGS >é To Advertise Call Linda Goodsell >) 986-6222, local 214 fet steer 6 tab MaasTO needs rd 8 eee Une SUMEAT + epee eS - FoR Can bea <7 HAUNTING Experience Don’t be SPOOKED Enjoy GOBBLIN’ at our place. Costumed Guests Rewarded idnvhin 445-13th at Marine Dr., West Vancouver 926-8922 Y.. may have seen Eco-Heroes honored in the EcoUpdate feature that runs every se- cond Wednesday. You can nominate your favorite Eco-Hero, the person who has taken that first small, but important, step to rnaking a difference in the world around us. The North Shore News thinks it’s important to recognize the Eco-Heroes in our communi- iy. If you know an Eco-Hero, please submit his or her name to this newspaper and your nominee will have a chance to win an Eco- ero button arid a Going Green on the North Shore coffee mug. Submissions should be sent to Eco-Hero, North Shore News, 1139 Lonsdale Ave., North Vancouver, V7M 2H4. Nominations can also be telephoned to Peggy Trendell-Whittaker, 985-2131, from Monday to Thursday.