Alpine Echo Gallery is bringing a fine art space to Revelstoke’s MacKenzie Village. The collaboration of local artists Meghan Porath, Zuzana Riha and Hayley Stewart opened Friday, Sept. 13. The gallery focuses on high skill pieces and aims to provide artists with a fine art gallery experience and clientele.
“Revelstoke is on the world stage,” Porath told Revelstoke Mountaineer. “We want to put artists in front of those eyes.”
Revelstoke’s growing international reputation has visitors looking for ways to take a piece of their time here home with them, and Alpine Echo Gallery will give folks from town and visitors a chance to see art with a focus on the natural beauty of the Kootenay mountain region.
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“[Visitors] want a piece that reminds them of their time here that matches the beauty of this area. And that’s our focus.”
Porath also works as the Revelstoke Visual Arts Society‘s (RVAS) executive director and Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre‘s (RVAC) curator. She plans to continue working with RVAS and sees no competition between the two spaces. Similar to the roles libraries and bookstores have in a community, Porath explained that a growth in commercial galleries doesn’t negate the need for public galleries such as RVAC’s.
“That space is more for showcasing art for the sake of conversation, for moving forward ideas,” Porath explained. “We want to give artists the experience of a high end gallery.”
Porath acknowledged the gallery pieces could be out of the price range for many local residents, but she doesn’t think the calibre set out by Alpine Echo Gallery will be out of reach of local artists. Her time as the executive director at RVAS has shown her the growth of the community art skill.
“Even in those four years I’ve seen the skills of local artists double, triple, even quadruple,” Porath explained. “When I talk about this space I do talk about professional artists who have experience having their work hung.”
Pricing aside, the space is still for the Revelstoke community at its core. A September shoulder opening gives Alpine Echo Gallery a chance to introduce themselves to the community. Porath encourages anyone to come and see the pieces offered even if there are no plans to purchase.
“We want community members to come in and see what’s new and fresh all the time.”