Skip to content

Grand ‘rebirth’ of Peninsula Gallery

New gallery owners hosting reception and show Saturday
48984sidneyPNRPenGalleryRebirth
Peninsula Gallery’s new co-owner

Peninsula Gallery is celebrating new beginnings with their show Rebirth this weekend.

The show, which will feature 60 new works in the gallery space at the corner of Beacon Avenue and Second Street, is in celebration of the recent sale of the business to new co-owners, Jonathan Jia and Vivian Chen.

Jia and Chen bought the gallery, with other co-owner Ying Tang, a movie director and producer in Shanghai, from Larry and Gillian Hanlon in early spring. The two took over the business April 1.

“We’ve felt so welcomed by the local residents and customers,” said Jia.

“Everyone here is so warm and friendly and they even come in and say welcome to Sidney. It has been really nice.”

Jia, who worked for many years as a tax partner with a major international accounting firm out of Beijing, has spent the last 20 years working between Victoria, Beijing and Calgary. Last year, after retiring from the accounting world and moving back to Victoria with his wife (Chen), the two heard about the Hanlons selling the gallery.

“My wife and I love art so this has been the perfect change for us,” Jia said, adding that it’s a nice change of pace.

“Accounting can be pretty tiring after a while,” he laughed.

The two say they chose the gallery for it’s top-notch collection of artists.

“The gallery just has such a great artist base full of world-class west coast artists,” said Jia.

And even though the business is vastly different from accounting, Jia said there are some similarities.

“It comes down to customer service and helping each and every customer find the right piece of art for their home. It’s the personal aspect that’s similar. People are letting you in to their lives and you’re helping them pick out something that will compliment their personal tastes. We get to deal with wonderful customers every day, that’s the beauty of it.”

The Grand Rebirth Show is taking place June 7 to 29 with the gala happening on the evening of June 7. Jia said over 25 artists will be in attendance as well as the Hanlons.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” he added.

For more information call 250-655-1282 or visit www.pengal.com.

 

reporter@peninsulanewsreview.com