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Late night opening Thursday & Friday. |
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noon - 6pm |
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Thurs/Fri: |
noon - 9pm |
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noon - 6pm |
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25th Anniversary of the James Gallery
On the 15th February 1984 I opened The James Gallery in Dalkey and now entering the 25th year and 150 exhibitions later it commences celebrating its 25th anniversary. Five years ago we established another outlet at 4 Exchequer Street in the city centre.
I spent most of my previous working life in the reinsurance broking and underwritting, mainly in London. My brother Jim and I had a dream to set up an art gallery together, but tragically Jim died of cancer (RIP) shortly before we were to embark on our venture. I decided to go it alone and named the gallery after him, thus The James Gallery.
I fixed a modest budget for my first year in business and made it with a small margin to spare. A client from Florida bought about one third of the paintings that year and in so doing, probably kept me in business!
The most interesting painting I sold was by Theodore Roussel, painted on a cigar box, signet ring embossed in wax on the back of the painting and gifted to Hetti Pettigrew - one of Whistlers models!
The fastest sale I ever made was one of 'Galway Hookers' by Norman McCaig. Norman liked a pint, don't we all, dropped out with the painting at 9:45pm one summers evening and went over to Finnegans to order a couple of pints while I locked the gallery. I put the painting in the window and a minute later a lady came in and bought it. When I gave Norman a cheque in Finnegans he enquired what it was for? I said it was for 'The Galway Hooker' he just left in and that I was so sorry it took so long to settle the account!
In the early days the invitations were much different than the one you are now hopefully reading! There would be ten photographs per invitation all stuck on with pritt stick for almost 2000 invitations. It took three nights to complete and the only way I kept the girls happy was with a constant supply to drink from Finnegans!
I have held so many amazing exhibitions that it would be unfair to pick one artist over another as they were all great at that point in their respective careers. However I think I will be forgiven if I mention Robert Taylor Carson's 70th birthday show. The Gallery was packed and the paintings for that time were expensive. Nothing happened until 7:30pm when the phone rang and my client from Florida bought the most expensive paintings. The result was that the show 'sold-out' in minutes! I mention that because Robert, a dear friend of many years is currently in a nursing home. Robert, you are in our thoughts, cheers!
Alas some of my great artists have passed on to that studio in the heavens most notably George Gillespie, Norman McCaig, Liam Treacy, Ruth Brandt and Brian Mooney. They are sadly missed as are the many fine clients alas no longer with us who in their lifetime got such great enjoyment both buying and admiring works of art.
I would like to thank everyone who helped and supported the gallery over the years and hope that customers old and new join me on the day. (Show opens 19th April 2008)
Best wishes
Pat Hopper
April 2008
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News
& Exhibitions |
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| Areas of Interest in Dalkey Town Centre
- For those clients who have never been to Dalkey an...
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| Liam O'Neill and John Coll, 2-Man Show
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| 25th Anniversary of the James Gallery
- On the 15th February 1984 I opened The James Galle...
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| Kenneth Webb Exhibition
- Where have the years gone to? It is now almost 25 ...
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| Friends of The James Gallery Past and Present
- Norman McCaig, George Gillespie, Jerry Marjo...
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more> |
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