Spotlight on IceberGallery's Arts & Drafts

Since forming in May of 2021, IceberGallery has hit the ground running. A growing organization with over 100 artists in its network, from all over the province, the artist-run non-profit has been hosting downtown photography outings, monthly creative challenges, and partnering with other organizations to help promote the work of its members while encouraging collaboration and networking opportunities.

This year, IceberGallery has kicked off a new initiative, the aptly named “Arts & Drafts,” to help promote the work of its artist network while partnering with the local business community. The event sees IceberGallery members displaying and selling their work at local breweries. The first event of the series was held at Quidi Vidi Brewery in February and also included a performance by local band the Old Contemporaries.

IceberGallery's first "Arts & Drafts" event was held at Quidi Vidi Brewery in St. John's in February.

"IceberGallery's mandate is to provide entrepreneurial, educational, and collaborative opportunities for visual artists within Newfoundland and Labrador to succeed...By collaborating with local breweries, we're able to provide the artists within the IceberGallery Artist Network an opportunity to sell their work in a public setting while also providing a collaborative opportunity via networking possibilities with other artists, customers, and audience alike. Collaborating with local breweries is mutually beneficial as these events help boost the visual arts and craft brewery communities economically during the ‘slower' periods of the year,” says Johnny Rose, Founder and Executive Director of IceberGallery.

The event at Quidi Vidi Brewery included 12 artists (with the brewery offering a special price on a pint for each arts purchase) and went off “without a hitch,” Rose says.

"The artists all loved it. This was a very informal ‘market’ with all of the artists taking the time to socialize with each other and get out from behind their tables to chat with patrons in the bar.”

Karen Dodge is one of the artists who participated in the Arts & Drafts event at Quidi Vidi Brewery.

Joe Bowers, Taproom Manager with Quidi Vidi Brewing, who also helped coordinate the event, says the business was pleased to partner with IceberGallery and looks forward to working with the organization again in the future.

"Supporting local is what Newfoundland and Labrador's craft beer industry is all about and here at QVB we love working with local artists. There was such a happy vibe during the event as we were all just getting out of the latest lockdown. It was great to see people out and about,” he says.

Sam Gosse Designs also participated in the first Arts & Drafts event.

There are three more Arts & Drafts events coming up, Rose says, with the next taking place at Ninepenny Brewing in Conception Bay South on March 26 from 2-8pm. It will be hosted by IceberGallery board member Emma Dooley, co-owner of nearby local business Funky Junk NL. Rose says the event will feature nine artists and will also include bar specials with arts purchases. Other Arts & Drafts events are planned for April 30 at Landwash Brewery in Mount Pearl, and May 14 at Bannerman Brewery in St. John’s.

"We've had an awesome response back from the breweries we've contacted. We are so lucky to have four breweries partner with us to host these events,” Rose says.

"This was the first year we've planned Arts & Drafts and with the amazing feedback we've received, we'll likely plan another series of Arts & Drafts in 2023.”

Crafted by Em was also featured at Arts & Drafts at Quidi Vidi Brewing. Em will appear at the upcoming Arts & Drafts event at Ninepenny Brewing in CBS.

Arts & Drafts is just one of the ways that IceberGallery collaborates with the community. The organization has also been partnering with the Anna Templeton Centre and Quidi Vidi Village Plantation for Open Studio Sundays, "where artists are invited to come and use the space/time-slot to work on their art, collaborate with artists, or stop by for a friendly chat,” Rose explains. "The atmosphere in the plantation is very inspiring." The next Open Studio session takes place April 10 from 1:30pm-4pm.

And then there’s PrintShop in a Box (PSiaB) with the Grenfell Gallery, ("which is a program designed to provide self-learning tools to organizations throughout the province to learn the art of printmaking. We will be hosting two workshops with the tools they provide,” Rose says); as well as regular Mystery Model Sessions, whereby artists create an impromptu piece of art based on a mystery model organized by IceberGallery.

"We've previously partnered with Funky Junk NL and the Arts Association of Mount Pearl to host these and hope to do so again soon,” Rose says.

Perhaps one of IceberGallery’s most well known initiatives is their Art Exhibition x Print Market, a recurring event held during the summer and fall in partnership with the Jacob Puddister Memorial Foundation (JPMF).

"They are an amazing resource for mental health assistance and sponsor the event at the St. John's Farmers’ Market,” Rose says.

"This is an opportunity for artists to sell their work, showcase new pieces, and network with our community of artists. The JPMF attend to provide resources surrounding mental health and the services they provide.”

Interested in joining the IceberGallery Artist Network? Email IceberGallery@gmail.com to sign up (it’s free!). All visual art mediums and experience levels are welcome.