Garbe, is interested in educating people about stories behind
the art, not just selling pieces
to potential buyers. “There are
people who love the story and
think ‘I want a political statement in my house,’ but there
are also people who want pretty flowers because it’s going to
look great with their leather
couch,” Garbe said. “And some
paintings are just about flowers,
but some paintings are about
why the vase is cracked.”
The current show, La Diaspora,
veers from the mostly abstract
and modernist pieces visitors
were used to: “In many ways,
the story La Diaspora tells,
which is pretty radical, will help
people understand what Puerto
Rican identity is—it isn’t just a
place you go to for vacations,”
Artist Terribly Odd speaking with a patron about his work in the show, Grimnoir.
said Garbe. “There is a lot of
pain, a lot of anger; a lot of resentment and operated galleries in the Orlando and Winter apartment building is brilliant because it’s that
injustice in these pieces.”
Park area before turning to Mills Park.
much more inviting. The space is open, the
staff friendly; there’s a resident Dachshund by
Garbe leads with an honesty and earnestness The pair’s a good match. Between DeWahl’s the name of Lump who snoozes on the sleek
that seems to soften the politically charged expertise and Garbe’s openness, the gallery furniture. It’s more diplomatic and cozy, sure,
material for those looking for “paintings about is able to maintain an anti-elitist attitude. but can it cure a fundamental issue within the
flowers.” Like many residential gallery cura- Garbe noted the issues in coming off as too Orlando art community: the inclusive bug that
tors, he doesn’t have a formal arts education elitist, especially inside a residential area (arms often fails to prioritize good art over bad art?
background, but his work with four local crossed, he mocked the standoffish, often concurators in the past year and experience as a descending “May I help you?” pose that sends It’s pivotal we begin to consider if galleries like
teacher impressed DeWahl, who owned and visitors running). Perhaps a gallery within an The Art Gallery at Mills Park will develop into
a permanent fixture amidst the
Curator, Boris Douglas Garbe, elaborates on a work at the house show of artist José M. Rivas
local art scene. The city is booming with countless development
projects, and with that comes an
expansion of arts programs, venues, and artists themselves. Can a
“gallobbery” grow with it?
Photos by Jason Fronczek
The Art Gallery at Mills Park is
located at 1650 N. Mills Ave,
Orlando Fl. 32803
You can see more at:
TheGalleryAtMillsPark.com
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