Human Scale Art Space opens first permanent gallery in downtown Northampton
The organization, which previously rented space elsewhere, will open its first permanent gallery on Main Street on Saturday.
Human Scale Art Space, an arts organization that spent years without a permanent home, will open its first gallery Saturday at 245 Main St., Suite 201 in downtown Northampton, underneath the Broadside Bookshop awning. The opening reception runs from noon to 8 p.m. and will feature Chinese-style watercolor paintings by artist Vartus Varadian.
Director Rick Colson founded Human Scale Art Space years ago but previously lacked a dedicated venue, forcing him to rent space at other locations like 33 Hawley and Easthampton City Arts for classes and workshops. Those partnerships were valuable, Colson said, but "to do that, we really needed our own space" to mount exhibitions lasting weeks or months. The new gallery, about 400 square feet, sits across from Pulaski Park in a building where Colson and his wife, Marcia Sailor, serve on the condo association.
Colson and Sailor financed the project through their retirement savings, purchasing both the gallery space and a two-bedroom condo directly upstairs, which they renovated over eight months to rent out and help subsidize gallery operations. The upstairs unit includes two bedrooms, a bathroom, kitchen, and a large open area. Colson described the renovation as "eight months of hard work."
Beyond exhibitions, the space will host workshops and classes. The first workshop, "The Reflected Image," taught by Northampton photographer Dave Madeloni on July 25, explores images created in water reflections. All workshops operate on a suggested donation basis. "If an artist can't afford the $50, they pay what they can afford, and if they can't afford anything, they come free," Colson said. "And that's been our policy since we began, and it will continue to be our policy."
Colson plans to launch a professional development series in the fall to train local artists to mentor other artists, with an end-of-year exhibition showcasing work created by workshop participants. He is also pursuing revenue through large-format printing services and a small store selling used photography and audio equipment along with art and photo books.
Currently, the gallery is open by appointment only except for the opening reception. Colson and Sailor hope eventually to hire staff and expand into a larger space in Northampton or Easthampton. "For now, I'm grateful to have this much space," Colson said. "This is just perfect for us right now."