 | ||
 | ||
                                     |
|
 |
|
A rippling effect hopes to invigorate Boulder's art community
The drip had a rippling effect, and, three years later, the building, now dubbed Rembrandt Yard, is filled with guests and artists at its opening reception. Food and wine are served, complemented by a table of intricately detailed cakes in the form of ships and other equally complex and edible designs. It is a fusion of elegance and absurdism, prestige and punk. Crowded, grandiose galleries showcase Boulder's finest artists and feature replicas of famous works of art—Van Gough's "Starry Night" and "The Café Terrace," to name a few—while the refrains of Rod Stewart's "Hot Legs" and the David Bowie/Queen collaboration "Under Pressure" are casually piped through the hallways. Suffice to say, it is a smashing success—two decades in conception, three years in construction, all spearheaded by a drip in the ceiling. "Even though this was something [Doug] wanted to do, it really wasn't in his mind to do it right that minute," says Pamela Gonacha, co-director of Rembrandt Yard. "The roof was leaking, so the roof had to be repaired. One thing led to another. A wall got knocked down. Another wall got knocked down. Two years later we have what we're sitting in right now. Really, it all started with a leaky roof." After noticing that drip, Greene brought Gonacha and his son Donovan, the art center's two directors, on board. The three of them developed the concept of Rembrandt Yard, taking into account the challenges of opening a new gallery in a struggling economy. After all, 2004 was not a good year for local art, as some of Boulder's most prestigious galleries shut their doors. For ideas, Gonacha and the Greenes traveled to 600 galleries worldwide to develop a concept that would transcend the traditional notion of an art gallery. "The gallery model as people had been used to it really wasn't as sustainable as it had been in the past," says Gonacha. "The economy was tough, and a lot of galleries were closing left and right. Well, here we are building one. We better think of something that's really interesting and innovative." The building, located across from the Hotel Boulderado, is sure to draw in passersby. Its facade spotlights the interior through copious wide glass panes, and the presence of quotes from famous artists on the exterior are an intriguing touch. However, the real innovation that distinguishes Rembrandt Yard is the presence of artist studios on site. Visitors have the opportunity to see their favorite artists at work during special open-studio hours or by appointment. The environment also establishes a strong community among the artists working there. "That's what I love: the community," says artist Rachel Znerold, one of Rembrandt Yard's eight studio residents. "We all have pretty unique styles and unique personalities. We all learn from each other... It's nice to have mentors that I live with in a way." At 23, Znerold has been painting seriously for 10 years, but prior to getting an art degree she was a pre-med student. And it was only two years ago that she first invested in frames and began exhibiting and selling her work. Since then she's been featured in numerous local galleries—both traditional and nontraditional venues, such as the Attic nightclub and restaurant—and sold many of her pieces. She describes her style as a combination of landscape and abstract painting, often beginning with an expansive vista, thickly layered, then letting her imagination take over, as evidenced in "El Mar," a blue-green expanse of ocean blanketed by a swirling sky of blue- and yellow-tinged clouds ("I'm a little cloud obsessed," Znerold says with a playful laugh) currently on display in the Rembrandt Yard gallery. Znerold is a self-described "messy painter" who works with a quick brush. This swift-stroke style breathes uncommon life into her pieces. "You have to find the balance between the planning and the spontaneity," says Znerold. "Things splatter, and I think that's beautiful. It's showing the human touch." Jessica Gonacha, another Rembrandt Yard resident, also got serious about her art two years ago, and success soon followed. "If you would have asked me a year ago what I would be doing, this is not anywhere close to what I would have said," she says. "I did my first show... and it spiraled its way to this." Like Znerold, Gonacha uses thick layers and vivid colors in her paintings. She often paints from photographs she's taken, including the currently displayed "Wagner's Vineyard." "My paintings are pretty much my visual perceptions of the places I go and the things I see," she says. "What I have displayed is a visual journal of my travels and what I see around the world and in my neighborhood. Little snapshots of my days, what I'm seeing through my eyes." "Wagner's Vineyard" was inspired by a wedding reception Gonacha attended in upstate New York. While wandering through the vineyard, she happened upon a building, a room of which seemed out of place. "It felt very chaotic in the middle of this serene, beautiful wedding reception, and this room was just full of stuff," she says. "I'm always looking for something that catches my eye, a moment that's a little bit different than whatever else is going on." The result is a bold, vivid painting that leads the eye with striking flourishes of red, orange and yellow. The work of Znerold and Gonacha are currently on display at Rembrandt Yard, as are the works of Nancy Anderson, Anthony Davis, Erin Donnelly, Caroline Douglas, Penni Pearson and Annie Ward. But for all involved with the art center, Rembrandt Yard is more than just a gallery or studio space. "It's more like a living entity," says Znerold. The hope is that Rembrandt Yard will transcend its physical location, serving as a gathering place for artists and art appreciators, a spur for local businesses as well as the local art community. It's an idea more than 20 years in the making come to fruition. A concept manifested by a single drop of water. Rembrandt Yard is located at 1301 Spruce St., Boulder. For more information, call 303-301-2970, or visit www.rembrandtyard.com. The gallery currently features the work of Nancy Anderson, Anthony Davis, Erin Donnelly, Caroline Douglas, Jessica Gonacha, Penni Pearson, Annie Ward and Rachel Znerold. Respond: letters@boulderweekly.com |
For 20 years, Doug Greene had wanted to create a community
art center in Boulder. And then one day the roof of one of his buildings sprang
a leak.
