"It's an adventure, every day." That was Anne Dondertman's description of life at Grey Gallery in downtown Owen Sound.
We were settled in to the welcoming space on 2nd Avenue East, and I was having my favourite conversation – how did you come to be in Owen Sound, and what do you want to do here?

Anne and her partner John Laughlin had been to the area over their career years: John has relatives in town. So when they made the decision that it was time to retire from the pace of Toronto, Owen Sound was already on the short list.

They bought the heritage building at 883 2nd Avenue East, long-time home of Coates and Best, that is their gallery and studio space, and began to renovate it into home. On one wall numbered boxes of belongings, art and books are neatly stacked, yet to be unpacked, now cleverly disguised as display space.

Books were what first drew the couple together. Anne was Director of the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library at the University of Toronto: John's hand-made one of a kind books are pieces of art. Both side walls of the Grey Gallery are filled with books, mostly John's collection. Visitors are welcome to take them off the shelf and settle in to a chair.

John is a graduate of the Ontario College of Art where he studied the figurative drawing that is clearly the heart of many of his pieces, painted on paper, cardboard, canvas and wood. Opportunity for life drawing will be back in Owen Sound at the Grey Gallery with weekly drop-in classes starting Wednesday September 19.

Collectibles and found objects draw attention from passers-by at the doorway. They will never be the same two times that you pass – these are collected and curated by Anne. Step through the door, and anything is possible, as the flexible space is constantly changing to allow for live music, artists' workshops and changing exhibits.

Visiting artists, exhibits and workshops at the Grey Gallery promise to bring us true treasures. This is the last week of Tak Kai Li's Wings of Inspiration exhibit – exquisite cut paper work butterflies.
In September the Grey Gallery is collaborating with the Ginger Press, Intersections and the Owen Sound Artists' Co-op in a Washi Weekend of Japanese paper art the 28th to 30th. Internationally known book artist Robert Wu will hold two hands-on workshops with traditional papers on Saturday at Grey Gallery - a book-oriented origami work and a three dimensional lotus flower. Raquell Yang will demonstrate and teach basic brushstrokes of Asian landscape painting on Sunday.