- Words by Angela Cowan Photograohy by Lia Crowe
Hear the word 乌鸦传媒渁uctioneer乌鸦传媒� and one of the first things that may spring to mind is high-speed patter in the middle of a tense back and forth between bidders. But for Oree Gianacopoulos, gallery director and art auctioneer at Chali-Rosso Art Gallery, the reality is very different.
乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 a lot of fun, but it乌鸦传媒檚 very different from auctioning farm equipment or flowers, or anything of that nature. Fine art is a slower, more elegant process,乌鸦传媒� she says. 乌鸦传媒淔or me, I really like to talk about each piece and do a nice presentation before it goes up for auction. Not everyone is a collector, and I think it乌鸦传媒檚 important people know what they乌鸦传媒檙e buying.乌鸦传媒�
Chali-Rosso Art Gallery, which opened in 2004, is named for the four artists they always carry: Marc Chagall, Salvador Dal铆, Joan Miro and Pablo Picasso. Oree乌鸦传媒檚 been involved since the beginning, bringing a clear passion for both the art itself and art education.
乌鸦传媒淚 spend a lot of my time in the gallery teaching people about fine art. Why this Picasso is more important than that one, why this artist is important, what an etching is, what 乌鸦传媒榦riginal乌鸦传媒� means,乌鸦传媒� she explains. 乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 important that people are able to access museum-quality art and learn about it. We really just want to encourage them to come in.乌鸦传媒�
She adds: 乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 exciting to see people乌鸦传媒檚 reactions to art. I乌鸦传媒檒l have a work of art in front of my desk for weeks, and then somebody will come in and look at it, and notice something I didn乌鸦传媒檛 even see. There are so many layers to each piece, and really your life experience will help you hone in on something.乌鸦传媒�
One of the most surprising things for people, she says, is that those museum-quality pieces are often more accessible than most would assume.
乌鸦传媒淭he only time you乌鸦传媒檒l hear about Picasso on the news is when it乌鸦传媒檚 a record-breaking auction. And when you go to a museum and you see a Picasso and a Salvador Dal铆 and a Matisse, there乌鸦传媒檚 a description, but there乌鸦传媒檚 not a price tag,乌鸦传媒� says Oree. 乌鸦传媒淪o people assume they乌鸦传媒檙e priceless乌鸦传媒攁nd sometimes they are乌鸦传媒攂ut sometimes they乌鸦传媒檙e not. It乌鸦传媒檚 actually within reach of a lot of people. They乌鸦传媒檙e always shocked to see how affordable the art is.乌鸦传媒�
Oree, born and raised in Vancouver, spent 20 years in the fashion design industry before moving over to auctioning fine art, and spent some time as a gallery director aboard cruise ships. To be back in her hometown, working and educating on something she loves, is a dream.
乌鸦传媒淲hile I was going to school I lived in Greece, and while I was on the cruise ships I lived everywhere,乌鸦传媒� she says. 乌鸦传媒淏ut even visiting the most beautiful ports in the world, I乌鸦传媒檇 come home and walk down to Granville Island, and turn around and look at the port and I乌鸦传媒檇 think, 乌鸦传媒業 live in the most beautiful city in the world.乌鸦传媒� This is home.乌鸦传媒�
The 7 Sins
Envy:
Whose shoes would you like to walk in?
Comfy ones for sure, but that乌鸦传媒檚 probably not the question. Audrey Hepburn was not only a style icon, but a caring, giving, selfless, compassionate and elegant woman. I乌鸦传媒檝e always had a girl-crush on her, and we share a birthday too!
Gluttony:
What is the food you could eat over and over again?
Prosciutto, fresh figs, angel hair pasta and cauliflower! Not together, but seriously, I乌鸦传媒檓 addicted to cauliflower.
Greed:
You乌鸦传媒檙e given $1 million that you have to spend selfishly. What would you spend it on?
It乌鸦传媒檚 difficult to imagine spending $1 million without sharing. Hmm乌鸦传媒乌鸦传媒檇 like to build a sanctuary filled with fluffy bunnies, but first, I would take all my family and friends on a vacation somewhere warm.
Wrath:
Pet peeves?
When unauthorized people park in handicapped spots 乌鸦传媒渏ust for a minute,乌鸦传媒� making life so much more challenging for a person with mobility challenges.
Sloth:
Where would you spend a long time doing nothing?
On a sandy beach in Hawaii乌鸦传媒r Cozumel乌鸦传媒r Crete.
Pride:
What is the one thing you乌鸦传媒檙e secretly proud of?
Friendships I have maintained since I was a little girl.
Lust:
What makes your heart beat faster?
As an art auctioneer, I乌鸦传媒檓 quite accustomed to public speaking, but that 30 seconds before I pick up the microphone and start the auction is still exhilarating! Oh, and my husband, he makes my heart beat faster too!
Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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