Rogue Gallery: Fun, unpretentious, ever-changing and accessible. The Lawrence Street Gallery has offered a space for the artist, by the artist, for almost three decades.
Story by David Wesley | Photos by Ed Abeska
LAWRENCE STREET GALLERY was established in 1987 by a small group of artists to showcase and sell their work in a gallery setting. Soon the membership expanded their goals to include other Michigan artists’ works by opening up the gallery space for solo, two- person, and group exhibitions; holding juried competitions in several different media such as photography, printmaking, ceramics and drawing/ figure exhibitions, and inviting other admired artists to participate in invitational exhibitions.
Exhibits change monthly. Members are also encouraged to have their own solo shows. A lively, creative group that loves to display other area artist’s work along with their own leads to exhibit- ions that contain interesting and various media. On display at the gallery are unique artistic pieces in a wide range of media including acrylic, oil, and watercolor paintings, drawings, fibers, prints, ceramics, black and white, color, and experimental photography, metal, clay, bronze, and wood sculpture, jewelry and painted furniture.
One of the key goals of the gallery is showcasing the vast field of talented artists in local region. Another is to provide visitors with an assortment of fresh, one-of-a-kind original works at buyer-friendly prices. Their optimal membership is 28 artists, and a member artist is always available to serve and advise you as you explore the gallery.
Laura Whitesides Host has been with the Gallery from the beginning and she gave Ferndale Friends a behind- the-scenes take on the the gallery’s history.
Ferndale Friends: What inspired you and the others to start Lawrence Street Gallery?
Laura Whitesides Host: I met Carolyn Fontana, who owned a gallery in downtown Pontiac, at a party at my friend’s home back in 1986. She had bought the old Salvation Army building on Lawrence Street, and it had been the location of the Schweyer Galdo Gallery before she had purchased it. It was a beautiful gallery with large windows and soaring ceilings.and expansive wall space to exhibit a lot of artwork.
She didn’t have a lot of experience in running a gallery, but she had plenty of enthusiasm. She was thinking about changing it to an artist cooperative gallery so she would not have to do all the work. My closets were full of paintings with nowhere to go, so I attended a meeting she held to show area artists the gallery space. I took a friend along and after seeing it, we decided to take a chance. I think there were about 12 artists who ended up in the original group.
We decided to incorporate the next year and called it Lawrence Street Gallery. Most of us really enjoyed the whole business of presenting our art and selling our work. We had all entered juried art exhibits, but really never had a chance to have our work presented in a gallery setting month after month.
We started having special themed exhibits and art fashion shows as well as teaching creative writing in the gallery setting to reach more artists. Part of our mission has always been to help area artists exhibit their work and have the public come and see the amazing work being created in this area. We gradually became a larger group and the building was sold, so we moved to Saginaw Street (Pontiac’s main street downtown) and decided to keep the name of the gallery. We were one of the first galleries in (downtown Pontiac) in the late 80’s and atone point there were 13 galleries that had openings on the First Friday of every month.
Alas, we were one of the last to leave the area and relocated to Ferndale on Woodward Avenue in 2003, keeping the Lawrence Street Gallery name. We were able to have enough room to have 30 members exhibit and have room for a featured exhibit in the front of the gallery.
FF: How have you seen Lawrence Street Gallery impact the Detroit art scene over the years?
LWH: We have exhibited many area artists’ work and many have gone on to exhibit nationally. There aren’t many art co-ops around and we are proud to still be going strong after all these years. Somehow we have found the ideal business model for an art gallery to continue.
FF: What would you and the others like to see for Lawrence Street’s future?
LWH: I would like to see continued excitement from artists to participate in the gallery’s business. I can’t believe it’s been almost 30 years since those first days. I have enjoyed the planning of event and exhibits, helping other artists learn the business of being an artist, and meeting so many creative people. It’s a lot of work, but made easier doing it with a group. All our members have gone through a jury process as well as the solo guest artists. I know I have benefited immensely by being a member of LSG. Remember my friend that came with me that first night in 1986? She’s still a member. We’re the last two original members still working at the gallery!
The Lawrence Street Gallery is located at 22620 Woodward Avenue, Suite A in Ferndale. For information on their upcoming exhibits or for information on entering your work there, visit www.lawrencestreetgallery.com or call 248-544-0394
If something happened with our health, we believe there is a solution to any maladies in a medicament. What medicines do patients purchase online? Viagra which is used to treat impotence and other states coupled to erectile malfunction. Learn more about “sildenafil“. What men talk about “viagra stories“? The most substantial aspect you must look for is “sildenafil citrate“. Such problems commonly signal other problems: low libido or erectile dysfunction can be the symptom a strong health problem such as soul trouble. Causes of sexual dysfunction include injury to the penis. Chronic disease, several medicaments, and a condition called Peyronie’s disease can also cause sexual disfunction. Even though this physic is not for use in women, it is not known whether this treatment passes into breast milk.
