Q&A: Students bring art to village with new gallery

By Daniel Pye<br><a href="mailto:pyed@gnnewspaper.com">E-mail Dan</a>
The Tonawanda News

May 18, 2008 10:22 pm

— KENMORE — A senior project for a group of Buffalo State graphic design students has turned into Kenmore’s newest art gallery.
Students Jodi Wroblewski, Jeremy Dolph and Ryan Hirliman opened Designosaurus Gallery just down the street from the municipality building, in the heart of Delaware Avenue’s business district, and have been drawing some interest from businesses and residents alike.
Dolph and Wroblewski talked about what led them to Kenmore and their hopes for the new enterprise for this week’s Q&A:
QUESTION: What led you to start a gallery on your own?
JODI: For our senior show in one class, we needed to have a spot. We wanted to go somewhere off campus, but it was hard to find the spot that we envisioned. We started looking for places to rent, came across this one and fixed it up.
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Q: So why this particular place in Kenmore?
JEREMY: The landlord was flexible and it’s a nice neighborhood. We were looking for something on Elmwood by Buffalo State to make the art district there and it was a good mix of that.
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Q: How did you pick the name for the gallery?
JEREMY: That was definitely Jodi. I wasn’t there for the original conception, but it was going to be Dinosaur, but then Di-no-soar-us is the way we pronounced it when we were tired. The three of us are designers, and we don’t want to limit the gallery to designers, but Designosaurus made a good fit and it was kind of fun.
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Q: What kinds of stuff are you interested in displaying?
JEREMY: The only three shows we’ve had here are our shows, but we’re really open to anything, anyone who wants a small space for any amount of time really.
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Q: Do you charge for admission to shows?
JEREMY: We don’t charge admission to show, but if they we interested in setting up something in the space we’d ask for something to offset the cost of rent. We’re not looking to make money off of this.
JODI: If we can make rent, we’ll keep it open.
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Q: How have local businesses responded to having a gallery in the area?
JODI: They’re pretty happy about somebody taking the spot because I guess it’s been vacant for a while. Just being here has been good, and there are apartment buildings near here so they’ve been pretty positive about us being here.
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Q: How can interested people get in touch with you to set up shows?
JEREMY: We’re working on a Web site, and when that’s up and running it’ll be www.designosaurus.org. But right now it’s by our personal e-mail. Mine is jpdolph@gmail.com and Jodi’s is jodiwroblewski@gmail.com.
JODI : We’re up for anything people want to do with the spot. It’s not limited to just display on the walls. If anybody has an idea, anything they want to do. It’s just kind of open.
JEREMY: We’ve had the idea to do a coffee night with some music, just kind of hanging out. Maybe have people have photography here. We’re open to anything, we don’t want to limit ourselves right now. Anything to generate interest.
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Q: How have people reacted?
A: We definitely get people walking by and looking in. A couple people walked in and it felt like a New York City gallery where people can just walk by and walk in, and that’s definitely the kind of feel we’re looking for. We want it to be something that’s inviting, not really appointment only. We like to have it staffed all the time. That’s our goal.
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Q: Are the pieces on the wall up for sale during a show?
JEREMY: I don’t put a price on any of my stuff, but it is for sale. I know Jodi had her show two weeks ago and that was all for sale.
JODI: I sold everything from my show, and I know Ryan’s stuff was for sale too.
JEREMY: Mine are all digital prints, so whatever someone is interested in paying. All proceeds go back to the gallery, I mean we’re not looking to make any money off this.
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Q: Is there anything else you’d like to say about the experience so far?
JEREMY: It’s fun. In doing this I learned about Kenmore and it’s a lot more alive than I thought it would be. It’s just like Elmwood, but less expensive and weird. There are really nice people and I feel safe outside.
Contact reporter Daniel Pyeat 693-1000, ext. 158.

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