Middletown’s downtown looks a little more colorful these days, thanks to the addition of the Cameron gallery at 412 Main St.
David Kania and Victoria Taylor, co-owners of the new art gallery had an un-official opening of the gallery for the public at the beginning of October. The space, which is named after Kania’s first-born son, had its official opening and ribbon cutting on Thursday, Oct. 21.
The gallery currently features an array of paintings, photographs and fabric pieces from over 20 artists. Featured artists include, George and Marcia Phillips, a married couple who paint impressionistic landscapes; Nicholas Orisni who paints Commedia Art; and Edeltraud Huller, who combines linen, sand and acrylic on canvas.
While some of these artists are from Connecticut, one even from Middletown, some artwork in the gallery comes from as far as Germany, Paris and Web City, Mich..
“I don’t know how a gallery actually makes money, unless you have really high-end old masters[…] and people go to New York for that sort of thing,”Taylor said. “We thought if we were going to open up a gallery, we were going to do it right.”
The artwork in the gallery is all commissioned, and artists pay a monthly fee for their own personal wall-space. The gallery, however, is waiving the monthly fee until all minor construction to the gallery has been completed.
“I always say to people that it doesn’t matter whether you pay a dollar or ten thousand dollars for a piece of art; as long as you like it, and can live with it, that is what art is about,” Taylor said. “Art is extremely subjective. David [Kania] and I don’t have the same taste.”
Taylor has been in the art business for the past 18 years. Aside to being co-owner of Cameron, Taylor also works as an art consultant, with a clientele that includes Carnival Cruise Lines and Seaborne Cruises.
Kania, who has lived in Poland and other parts of Europe for the last 12 years, also has businesses outside of the gallery. In 1997, Kania founded the first network of cash-and-carry stores in Poland. Kania compares these stores to Costco’s, where customers can purchase bulk items at a cheaper unit price.
Kania, a Middletown native, got together with long-time friend Taylor on May 31 to purchase the building, which used to be a men and women’s garment store. According to Kania, the building itself dates to the 1880s.
The building, according to Kania and Taylor, was in need of much renovations before it would begin to look and feel like an art gallery. With a construction team, Kania and Taylor revitalized the interior of the building during the months before its soft opening.
“The deeper we dug, the more we discovered,” Kania said. “When we pulled the tiles off the floor, we found this beautiful hard-wooden floor that was otherwise hidden from us. When we removed the plaster from the walls, we discovered the original tin ceiling. And the railings, were also covered, were made of Bronze the entire time. There was another building hidden in there.”
With approximately 10,500 square feet, a mezzanine and a 30-foot high ceiling, the gallery can hold art work as well as large numbers of people.
“We would like the main floor to also be an event space.,” Taylor said. “We want to get events and meeting, and galas held in here. That way we get more and more people in.”
On any given day, any number of different people are likely to stroll into the gallery and browse at the art work.“
So far Cameron has attracted a wide range of visitors.
”Sometimes I am surprised by the people who stop in,“ Kania said. ”Sometimes you can tell right off the bat who is an art collector, or who had dreams of being an artist. And then you can also tell people who are just genuine curiosity seekers.“
According to Kania and Taylor, word of mouth will be instrumental in the gallery’s future success.
”I don’t want it to be that kind of art gallery were you feel like you have to buy something. We want people to come in and just look, too,“ Taylor said. ”Look around, it’s a beautiful building.“
The owners are also excited to have their gallery located on Main Street, in the heart of Middletown’s downtown.
”When you think about this whole street, there is Green Street Arts Center, North End Artist Cooperative, and the anticipation of Godspeed Opera house,“ Taylor said. ”Middletown is definitely up and coming.“
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