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22 SATURDAY, JULY 27, 2019 THE MORNING CALL

BETHLEHEM HOUSE SummerShow

runsthrough
Gallery: October5

Five years of a truly unique approach to exhibiting

By Shannon Sigafoos of The Morning Call

I f you’re intimidated by art – because you don’t Several years ago, when his wife Becca came previous occupants were ready to move out five

have an art background or you’ve never visited
up with the “house” gallery idea, Ward Van
years ago. “There were dropped ceilings in here
a gallery – Bethlehem House Gallery aims to
Haute, curator and executive director, knew
and institutional gray carpets and yellow walls,
and a bizarre layout because it used to house
that Bethlehem’s Main Street was the right place
serve you.
When you bring your kids to the gallery,
visitors to come and explore. It just became a
and change up the front windows to get natural
there’s a chalkboard wall where they’re to create an inviting, open space for artists and offices. We had to make all of the rooms connect
encouraged to embrace their inner Picasso. In matter of finding the right space – and creating light in here.”
fact, you’re welcome to bring your (well behaved) the right aesthetic. Van Haute’s background in theatre and
dog, too. And during the current Summer Show, “It was serendipitous – right place, right television enabled him to envision how the
there are kinetic sculptures and surprise wooden time,” recalls Van Haute, who made some space should ultimately look. By design, he
boxes in each room that encourage visitors to behind-the-scenes maneuvers to secure the wanted the opposite of a traditional white-
touch and truly interact with the art. 2,500 sq. ft. space at 459 Main St. when its wall gallery. He also hired a theatre colleague,