How Does the Art Rental Program Work?

The program offers a sophisticated opportunity to enjoy contemporary artwork in a home or office, allowing collectors to experience how a piece influences the grounding and consciousness of a space before making a permanent acquisition.

The rental fee is based on the professional valuation of the painting. Collectors are billed on a monthly basis, providing a flexible pathway to curate a meaningful environment until they decide to purchase the work or explore a new selection.

Visit the official North Vancouver Arts website for the best way to plan your visit.

About the CityScape Community ArtSpace

This contemporary art space is owned by the City of North Vancouver, while North Vancouver Arts oversees its programming and day-to-day management.

With eight diverse exhibitions each year, they showcase a thought-provoking mix of local and international artists. The spacious, high-ceilinged gallery is designed to accommodate dynamic installations, including large-scale sculptures, textiles, and digital projections.

About North Vancouver Arts

Founded in 1969, North Vancouver Arts is a grassroots non-profit dedicated to building healthy, inclusive communities by supporting artists of all disciplines and bridging cultures through the arts. With 100 dedicated volunteers and 400+ members, their mandate is to empower both emerging and professional artists, while bridging cultures and building a healthy, strong community through the arts.

Website: northvanarts.ca
Address: 335 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver, BC
Phone: 604.988.6844
Email: info@northvanarts.ca
Gallery Hours: Wednesday – Saturday: 11 AM – 5 PM | Tuesday by Apponitment

Contemporary abstract art painting by Deb Chaney — *See With Original Purity* by Deb Chaney (9” x 12”)

One of the most exciting opportunities I’ve been approached about recently is a collaboration with an art consultancy based in the UK. They found me through my collection at Saatchi Art online gallery, which has been a wonderful platform for bringing me together with collectors and people with an interest in contemporary abstract art.

Spreading Art Around the World

Peter Millard & Partners is a London-based international art consultancy that specializes in creating artwork schemes for hotels and luxury residences. They draw on everything from paintings to sculptures ranging in size from small to monumental.

With 30 years of experience in the art world, they work with interior designers, individuals, or hotel groups choosing artwork and planning unique layouts suitable for each location.

“Our ethos is to make each artwork enhance the interior adding dimension and vibrancy to each space.”

— Peter Millard and Partners

Their projects circle the world, with installations in Europe, The Middle East, Africa, and Japan, for clients such as Fairmont Hotels, Four Seasons, Marriott, and Sheraton, as well as many other high-end chains and smaller boutique hotels.

They chose 2 of my paintings for a new installation, so I’d just like to show my appreciation and mention what wonderful work they’re doing by brightening the world with art.

A Million Little Pieces of Art

The series of paintings that caught the attention of Peter Millard & Partners is closer to a dozen paintings than a million. But when I was painting the series, I’d just finished reading A Million Little Pieces by James Frey. The book’s protagonist is struggling with drug and alcohol addiction, and when he finally decides to get better, he falls in love with the sanctuary, hope, and equanimity that he finds in the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu (also spelled Laozi).

It really touched me, so I went out and bought a copy of the book. And still, to this day, I keep my copy of this little book of ancient Chinese wisdom on my nightstand. I love being able to open it up to any page, picking a phrase at random, and being open to the wisdom it has to offer.

With the Tao Te Ching in mind, this series was inspired by the idea of simplicity, and all of the paintings in the series have titles based on phrases and excerpts from the book. The two paintings selected by the consultants at Peter Millard are both green, black, and white – very simple – with titles drawn from the Tao Te Ching: Through Sustained Activity and See With Original Purity.

The paintings are one of my “series within a series” in that they’re part of my Little Gems Series, which you’re probably familiar with if you’re a regular reader. I’ve written about them recently (such as here, here, and here) but in a nutshell, they’re small pieces – usually 9” x 12” – that I use to try out new techniques or practice old ones. And some of them result in real works of art!

Original Artwork and Prints for Sale

Both original paintings are available to buy through Saatchi Art online gallery. Through Sustained Activity and See With Original Purity are both acrylic and ink on paper and measure 9” x 12” in size.

You can also order prints of both paintings and Saatchi Art offers multiple options to suit your personal tastes or needs. Prints can be on paper or canvas and are usually available in 4 sizes – to better fit your room. You can also choose to have it framed in white, black, or natural wood.

The “View In A Room” image gives you an idea of its size and lets you see what it looks like on a wall. But take it one step further with the “View in My Room” tool that lets you see what it looks like on your wall.

Blog Archive

Living with Meaningful Art: The North Vancouver Arts Rental Program