Jennifer Irving Opening Art Gallery In Uptown Saint John
SAINT JOHN– A local photographer is opening an art gallery in a vacant former souvenir shop in uptown Saint John.
Jennifer Irving announced Tuesday that she has purchased 62 Water Street, a historic property that was built in 1885 in the wake of the Saint John fire. The building had been vacant for years and was previously a souvenir shop called Distant Waters.
“Sixty-two Water Street will be a gallery on the first floor with a studio on the second floor,” said Irving in a news release. “I hope to host events as well, contributing to the blossoming arts and culture scene in Saint John.”
The building is smack dab in the centre of summer cruise ship traffic, so in the spirit of the building’s previous tenant, Irving will also have a boutique in the gallery. She is working with Studio Shirshekar renovate the building and to preserve as many original elements of the building as possible.
“This is a unique opportunity to work on a heritage building Uptown that will become both a cultural venue for the city and a space visitors to the area can explore,” said Sanaz Shirshekar, architect and owner of Studio Shirshekar.
Renovations will begin shortly and Jennifer hopes to open the gallery in the summer of 2019.
“We are happy to see another space in Uptown Saint John being transformed into a creative spot that will also add to our local economy. One of our areas of focus is to continue to grow and support an entrepreneurial culture,” said Ron Gaudet, CEO of Economic Development Greater Saint John. “Jennifer’s new business will be another example of what is possible here and hopefully motivate others to take their own entrepreneurial step.”
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