Art sophistication comes to James Street North

A decision by the Art Gallery of Hamilton to lease space on James Street North is “a game changer” that takes the street’s rejuvenation to a higher level, according to fans of the plan.

The gallery announced Thursday it is opening additional digs on James in the spring to house a second AGH store, and another exhibit, events or community room.

“It’s probably the biggest retail store to open in decades on James Street North,” said Tim Potocic, co-owner of 118 James St. N., the renovated building where the AGH will take up 5,000 square feet on the street level.

“It’s one of the most significant and biggest things to happen on a retail level in years,” added Potocic, who also co-owns recording studio Sonic Unyon on James, and is a founding father of the annual James Street North Supercrawl coming up Sept. 10, which is rapidly growing in popularity.

The section of James between York Boulevard and Cannon Street has undergone much transformation in the past two to three years, as has the section north of Cannon, he said. But the presence of an institution like the AGH “is a majorly positive change” and will help attract people to live in the area, he said.

“It’s helping to bring back the core not just to shop, but to live as well.”

AGH executive-director Louise Dompierre said the store and space in the historic 1920s building will complement the AGH rather than duplicate what the gallery already has. She would not, for example, be able to display 19th century paintings because the new site does not have the required environmental controls to preserve it.

“James Street North is somewhat more informal and its character is different.”

She expects it will attract visitors and users who don’t normally attend the gallery as well as regulars.

The move to open a second location is “an opportunity for us to join those who worked for James Street North renewal and to contribute to the continued growth of the downtown in a very different way than we do now,” she said.

The store, for example, will showcase products such as furniture, lighting, artwork and jewellery “with an emphasis on contemporary and Canadian pieces,” according to Filomena Frisina, chair of the AGH’s board of directors. The store will have “a distinct vibe and feel drawn from the energy of James Street North …” she said.

Comments

[catherine darling]

i agree 100% with the previous comment. I attended the art crawl on sept 10th. interesting, but definitely not the area that i would venture out to to shop!!!!!!!! CREEPY area of town, especially at night or when there is nothing going on, which i would imagine is most of the time. i love to shop & support independant shops, but there are limits to that!!!! I would not risk my life going to that area to shop! why not put a branch of the art gallery in the community, rather than a block away in the same neighborhood???? I hope my tax dollars are not supporting this wasteful endevour. This region streches to dundas, ancaster etc...... that is precisely why the downtown core is a mess, stupid decisions that are paid for by wasting tax dollars!!!! Lets make the decision makersaccountable esp in this doomed economic climate. I do not support wasting my hard earned money on unaccountable stupidity. If BIA money is being given out carelessly, haNd it out as a grant!!!!!!! Lets get our provincial, as well as city politicians working to erase this unaccountable waste to those who should be accountable for wasting valuable tax dollars. this city has a reputation for underhanded deals/backroom bargaining that has created the squallor downtown.
ACCOUNTABILITY IS THE KEY HERE, FOR THOSE HANDING OUT $ AS WELL AS THOSE RECIEVING FUNDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[catherine darling]

i agree 100% with the previous comment. I attended the art crawl on sept 10th. interesting, but definitely not the area that i would venture out to to shop!!!!!!!! CREEPY area of town, especially at night or when there is nothing going on, which i would imagine is most of the time. i love to shop & support independant shops, but there are limits to that!!!! I would not risk my life going to that area to shop! why not put a branch of the art gallery in the community, rather than a block away in the same neighborhood???? I hope my tax dollars are not supporting this wasteful endevour. This region streches to dundas, ancaster etc...... that is precisely why the downtown core is a mess, stupid decisions that are paid for by wasting tax dollars!!!! Lets make the decision makersaccountable esp in this doomed economic climate. I do not support wasting my hard earned money on unaccountable stupidity. If BIA money is being given out carelessly, haNd it out as a grant!!!!!!! Lets get our provincial, as well as city politicians working to erase this unaccountable waste to those who should be accountable for wasting valuable tax dollars. this city has a reputation for underhanded deals/backroom bargaining that has created the squallor downtown.
ACCOUNTABILITY IS THE KEY HERE, FOR THOSE HANDING OUT $ AS WELL AS THOSE RECIEVING FUNDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!