Richfield's Vuitts Galleries Features Two Local Artists

While there are a lot of artistic opportunities in Minneapolis, you don't have to travel even that far to experience great art in various media. Richfield's Vuitts Galleries, located on Penn near 66th, showcases local art each season. The current exhibit, running through June 1, features artists Eleanor McIntosh and Joshua Garica.

Vuitts manager Abdellah Ouchagour, an artist himself, helps run the gallery and store with other artists. Ouchagour, a Moroccan-American, studied painting and furniture making at MCAD (Minneapolis College of Art and Design), and is passionate about creating a place for artists to show their work. This has been an aspect of Vuitts since it opened about two and a half years ago.

The exhibits, which change with the seasons, feature many forms of art. There isn't typically a theme for the exhibit; instead, Ouchagour and the other owners seek contrast to make it interesting.

"We do mixed media, too," Ouchagour said. "The [exhibit] before this was a furniture maker and a painter. We like to combine things."

The current exhibit features work of two painters, McIntosh and Garcia. However, although the medium is the same, the artists' works are very different.

"We are showing realistic and abstract [art styles] at the same time," said Ouchagour.

Ouchagour thinks the area is perfect for an art gallery.

"There's no art gallery around here. There's a lot of artists here in Richfield, but they don't have the opportunity to showcase art," he said. "Being close to Edina, downtown [Minneapolis] and Bloomington helps a lot to showcase different artists from the area."

Richfield Patch caught up with McIntosh to talk about her technique, history and why Richfield is a great place for the arts.

Richfield Patch: Where are you from?

Eleanor McIntosh:  I live in Richfield, at City Bella. I've lived in Minnesota since I was ten years old; in Minneapolis, Robbinsdale [for high school], Richfield, Edina, and now Richfield again.

Richfield Patch: How long have you been painting? Why did you start?

McIntosh: I've been doing oil painting for about 15 years. My mother was a painter and left me a large assortment of brushes, paints, [and so on]. I decided I had better either use them or give them away, so I tried using them and was amazed that my attempts looked the way they were supposed to. So, I began taking lessons. Before that, I had had many interests [such as] copper enameling, glass etching, fabric painting and candle making ... I was known as "The Candle Lady" when I lived in Edina.

Richfield Patch: How do you describe your style? Tell me about your technique.

McIntosh: I guess you would call my style realism. I paint using an underpainting in the style of the old masters. I have been in the classes taught by Jeff Hurinenko of Hurinenko and Paquet Studios in St. Paul for over 10 years. Jeff is a great artist and all his students would like to paint the way he does.

Richfield Patch: Who do you look up to artistically? What are you inspired me?

McIntosh: Jeff, for one. Others would be Fantin-LaTour, Bouguereau and Rembrandt. I am inspired by flowers, children, animals, the way light falls on objects, and sometimes the objects themselves.  

Richfield Patch: What makes Vuitts Galleries a great addition to the community?
McIntosh: Vuitts Galleries is a great addition to the community because it is a place willing to show the work of local artists and help them in their careers.  In addition to paintings, they have many other art works, pottery, jewelry, [and more].

To be considered for future exhibits, artists should visit vuittsgalleries.com to submit an application.