Art gallery on the move
It’s only a few blocks from his current location at 17329 Mack in Detroit, but when Robert Maniscalco moves his Maniscalco Gallery to 17728 Mack, he’ll be in another city.
Grosse Pointe City, to be exact.
At press time, Maniscalco was in the process of renovating the Grosse Pointe space in anticipation of a hoped-for March 30 opening and reception, coupled with a new exhibit, “Italia,” featuring works by Maniscalco and other artists.
Artist, art educator and portrait painter Maniscalco launched his gallery in Detroit in 1997. Since then, the space has been home to exhibitions by new and established contemporary artists from the Detroit area and across the globe. Maniscalco is an active supporter of the arts outside of his gallery work as well, serving as president of the Wayne County Council for Arts, History and Humanities.
With slightly less gallery space, Maniscalco expects to conduct more one-person shows at the Grosse Pointe gallery. However, the new location will have more space for workshops.
“It will be more appropriate for what we’re doing,” Maniscalco said.
Grosse Pointe City artist Jac Purdon, who’s been a mainstay at the Maniscalco Gallery, believes the new space may bring in more customers and possibly more foot traffic.
“I think it’s a solidification of some of his artistic philosophies,” said Purdon of the move. “I think what it’s doing is giving him a more solid direction from here on out.”
Among the changes at the new location, Maniscalco said he intends to paint in the front window, so that passersby can see art in action.
“That’s intended to share with the public the process of creating art,” he said. “I’m very much into outreach and sharing art with the public.”
His gallery isn’t the only thing Maniscalco’s moving to Grosse Pointe. He and his wife Amanda (an artist and framer at the gallery), who had been living in a residential space at the back of the Detroit gallery, bought a house in Grosse Pointe City, he said.
While renovations continue, the current “Truth” exhibition has been extended at the Detroit gallery through the end of February, Maniscalco said.
For more on the gallery or the opening, call (313) 886-2993 or (800) 649-3125.