Gallery at Four Departs Tiverton Four Corners - Inside Art with Michael Rose

Gallery at Four Departs Tiverton Four Corners - Inside Art with Michael Rose

Long regarded as one of the state’s most picturesque enclaves, Tiverton Four Corners is steeped in charm. In the depths of a New England winter, the promise of a summertime visit to Gray’s Ice Cream elicits hope. For many years, Tiverton Four Corners has attracted arty types. Historically, it has boasted a carousel of different purveyors of art, from individual artist’s studios to dedicated gallery spaces. It was recently announced that Gallery at Four, a popular venue on Main Road, would close its doors at the start of 2022. The announcement signals a loss for the arts in Rhode Island.

Gallery at Four was founded in 2018. Director Chas. Hickey enjoyed a long career in the advertising and marketing industry prior to channeling his passion for art into the space, which hosted shows championing artists from the region and beyond. After four years densely scheduled with exhibitions, Hickey is moving on.

 

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

When asked what he most enjoyed about running his own gallery, he says, “Curating is near the top of the list as I consider my relationships with artists a true collaboration. Early on I actually learned a lot from the artists, having no true art background myself, other than the fact that I was introduced to art at a very young age and a lifelong appreciation. I love the installation process, either for a group of 54 artists as with the South Coast Artists Invitational, which I hosted twice, or a show of two artists.”

Gallery at Four continued a tradition of exhibitions in Tiverton. Long-time Rhode Islanders will recognize the name Virginia Lynch Gallery as a staple of Tiverton Four Corners. For twenty-odd years prior to its closure in 2003, Lynch’s space was renowned for the quality of art and exhibitions it hosted. Also located at the crossroads was Donovan Gallery, which enlivened an historic hip-roofed house until it closed in 2013. Across town, the much-lauded Van Vessem Gallery also brought art lovers to the East Bay before it ended its run in 2018. Gallery at Four’s closure is as stinging as the shuttering of Lynch, or Donovan, or Van Vessem Galleries.

 

 

Citing the area as historically fruitful for artists, Hickey notes that the end of his tenure may close a chapter for the neighborhood. He states, “When Tiverton Four Corners had a real growth spurt in the late 70s and early 80s the vision was all about art. There are less than a handful of artists here today. My biggest fear in closing the gallery is that, for the first time in almost 40 years there, quite possibly, may not be a gallery at Four Corners.”

The gallery business is a tough one and those who enter into the field should be lauded for sacrificing their time and treasure to bring artworks to market. Dealing art in a place like Rhode Island, in the shadow of a conventional art center like New York, must start as a labor of love. Hickey passionately brought great exhibitions to the area, and his record will be remembered positively alongside his peers, like his esteemed predecessor Virginia Lynch.

When asked what might strengthen the field of retail galleries in the state, Hickey floats the idea of collaboration, saying, “Perhaps, a group of small gallery owners forming an association; sharing experience and ideas with one another, meeting, say quarterly, could grow into something quite formidable, promoting a shared mission.”

 

 

For Hickey, owning a gallery was a later-in-life career move. He brought a unique point of view to gallery directing. Rather than a traditional art background, he came to the job equipped with a practical skillset for making connections and the eye of someone who has an appreciation for artists. Winding down the gallery will give Hickey the chance to focus on well-deserved leisure time.

Considering where things will take him after his period as a gallery owner, Hickey looks both back and ahead. He says, “This is my fourth career, and an unexpected one at that, but one that I've enjoyed as much as my many years in advertising and marketing, which were terrific times in Boston, Atlanta and Manhattan. My immediate plan is to spend some time at my place in Key West which has a pretty lively art community. Right now, I think I'll wait and see where the breezes of the Conch Republic might lead me.”

Looking forward, it is worth hoping that another intrepid art advocate finds their way to Tiverton Four Corners to continue the tradition set forth by the talented gallerists of the past. Though not an easy trade, commercial galleries are essential and art-focused entrepreneurs like Hickey should be celebrated, supported, and thanked.

 

To learn more about Gallery at Four, visit www.galleryatfour.com.