Interview by Phil Anderson
The Interview questions with Propeller Art Gallery were answered by Tiffany Duong, Susan Ruptash and Anna Dopico, the organizers of the Propeller 30 Exhibition (PAG). Interview questions by Phil Anderson (PA).
PA: Congratulations for the Gallery’s 30th Birthday. Besides the Propeller 30 exhibit are there any other celebrations to mark your 30th anniversary?
PAG: The biggest one is that our Board Secretary and Exhibition Co-organizer, Anna Dopico, has written a fabulous book commemorating our first 30 years.
You can see a copy in the gallery, or read more information here. We also made T-shirts using the logos designs by our long-standing member, Keijo Tapanainen.
PA: What would you say was the biggest challenge that the gallery has faced ? I am guessing it might be the receivership of Artscape.
PAG: Certainly the day we learned that our landlord Artscape was going into receivership was one off the darkest days for us. But the gallery has faced other challenges in the past as rents rose on Queen West and financial uncertainty loomed from time to time. The resilience and bravery of the founding and past members gave us the resolve to dig deep and save the gallery.
PA: Have you noticed any changes in the Gallery when it turned into a co-op Gallery?
PAG: We have been an artist-run Not for Profit organization since inception. Being artist-run means that each one of our members feels a pride and responsibility to each other and to the gallery as an enduring entity.
PA: What are the new challenges facing the gallery?
PAG: We want to continue to diversify our membership and attract a wide range of artists. We also want to continue to expand our connection with the general community. As the gallery continues to attract more interest and more submissions, managing the workload of our volunteers and employees remains an ongoing issue.
PA: You asked your members to reflect on what Propeller means to them. How did they respont? You will also have an Open Mic day on Sunday.
PAG: Our Open Mic happens this coming Sunday September 6 and we are looking forward to hearing the stories. We hope you can join us!
As part of the current exhibition, we asked artists to reflect on what Propeller means to them, and it was very touching to read how many artists have been deeply affected by Propeller throughout the years. There is also a printed copy of their opinions in the Gallery.
PA: What are your observations in the changes in the local Toronto art scene?
PAG: The financial realities of Toronto make it a serious challenge for emerging artists to find spaces to exhibit. We are proud to be one of the long standing artist-run galleries, and our role in offering a space and a community for artists.
PA: There were a lot of great art works on display from both alumni and current members. What were the challenges for the organizers of this exhibit?
PAG: We worked hard to reach out to as many of our Alumni as possible and we are thrilled with the response from both current members and alumni. We had no idea how many artworks we would get. The absence of a specific exhibition theme could have meant a challenge to curate the works into a cohesive exhibition, but Tiffany Duong, one of the co-organizers, did a masterful job in arranging and organizing the artworks.
PA: I remember the original space at 96 Spadina. Your current space is a vast improvement. Are there any plans in the future to change the current space?
PAG: With the assistance of an Ontario Trillium Grant, we are undertaking some renovations later this year to improve the accessibility of the gallery. We want to be welcoming to everyone.
PA: Propeller members must feel a weight off them now that they own their space. I think it was a stressful time fundraising and making that happen.
PAG: It was stressful at times, but we never gave up hope. Once we resolved to try to save our space, everyone worked hard to pursue every possible avenue. At the same time, we believed that even if we were not successful, Propeller would continue in some form. We were not going to let Propeller end on our watch.
PA: Are there any particular exhibits coming up that you are excited about?
PAG: Our annual fundraising event in December, Off the Wall, is so much fun and a highlight in our year. Our fall programme includes great pairings of members, both newer and long-standing, including a few small group exhibitions. Our first exhibition of 2027 continues our tradition of supporting our Emerging Members with an exhibition. For the first time, we are including our New Members as well.
Images are courtesy of Propeller Art Gallery
*Exhibition information: Propeller 30 / Anniversary group exhibition, August 19 – September 6, 2026, Propeller Art Gallery, 30 Abell Street Toronto. Gallery hours: Wed – Sat 1 – 5:30 pm, Sun: 12 – 4 pm.