GREENFIELD — After two years of searching, photographers Paul Teeling and Anja Schütz have found a gallery space where they can create and show their work.
Teeling and Schütz, along with their business partner Jamie Berger, are opening their own gallery called Teolos, with a focus on photographic art. The grand opening at 3.5 Osgood St. will be held Friday night between 5 and 8 p.m. during the monthly Greenfield Arts Walk.
The two photographers, who live in Turners Falls, said they’ve had trouble finding a space they could rent in town.
“When a space opens up, it gets used for other purposes,” Schütz explained, “which is frustrating because so much of the foot traffic in Turners is for the arts.”
However, they knew the former tenant of 3.5 Osgood St. in Greenfield, who sold mid-century modern furniture. They were offered the space and took over the old tenant’s lease back in November. They have been painting the storefront and giving it new life in preparation for Friday’s grand opening ever since.
“It is the perfect space for [taking photos] because it is long and wide and has high ceilings,” Teeling said. He added it is also easily convertible from gallery to studio space because of the storefront’s simple layout. Schütz has already used the space as a studio for several commercial and private photo shoots.
The two mentioned they are a great pair to open the space together because photographers often have to work by themselves. They enjoy the social aspect of being able to work together and assist each other with photo shoots.
They hope to change gallery shows every two months, and bring in new people who have not gotten a lot of attention in the Pioneer Valley. They already have several artists in mind to feature in the gallery in the coming months. Aside from the gallery receptions, the shows will be viewable by appointment only for the time being. They also hope to teach workshops for other artists, to collaborate and learn together.
In hopes of breeding appreciation for all art forms, they also hope to have readings, theater performances and concerts. Berger is a writer and hopes to bring people to the space to perform.
Telling is most excited to use his large-format film cameras to take portraits in the studio. He explained using the camera is a slow operation that involves the person who is having their photo taken become part of the process. He enjoys taking portraits, and getting to meet and get to know people in the process.
The first show in the gallery, the name for which stands for The Effect of Light on Silver, will have Teeling and Schütz’s work on display.
Teeling will share a series of abstract images depicting what he describes as “gay sacred spaces.” They are all vibrant and colorful. A scaled-down version of the series was displayed last year at the Plum boutique on Main Street, but this will be a larger and more complete version.
Schütz’s contribution to the gallery show consists of a series of portraits from a project she did last summer working with the musical group Roomful of Teeth. This is the first time this work will be in print and visible to the public. Other works she’ll display include portraits from her artist residency two years ago.
“It’s been great turning the space into something special,” Teeling said, “and I can’t wait to let people in.”
Bella Levavi can be reached at 413-930-4579 or blevavi@recorder.com.