GALLERISTA

In 2007, Maria started the galleryjoao project.

galleryjoão is her vision for having accessible dialogue around contemporary art, to showcase artists that she believes in, and to keep her creative juices flowing. Currently an event-based travelling gallery, Maria hopes to run her own exhibition space in the future with a rotating roster of artists.

galleryjoão’s mission is to promote and facilitate the careers of multi-disciplined emerging and mid-career artists whose work is somehow rooted in the figuaritve and explore cultures – whether they be ethnic, gendered, political, the culture of language or the culture of landscapes. Above all else, galleryjoão will be a dynamic space. A space to promote dialogue – between artist and audience, artist and society, me and you.

galleryjoao saw the successful October reception and showing of the work of artist Marc Tyson Ewert at the Beaumont Studios in Vancouver and a subsequent showing of his Brown Series at the Jericho Arts Centre.

Marc uses a modern sense of design influenced by his Heltsuk First Nations heritage. His mostly large-scale works have explored many themes within his cross-cultural approach including the use of symbols in propaganda – examples of which have challenged pre-conceived societal notions of good and evil. Marc is currently exploring functional furniture art.

Maria is always searching for new artists and new showing opportunities to expand her curatorial practice.

To check out Maria's blog about art, culture and museums log onto www.museumsculture.blogspot.com