Sookies will be sad to hear the Sooke Fine Art Gallery, a business that has operated in Sooke for nearly 28 years, is closing down at the end of October.
But owners Marion and Michel DesRochers don’t wan’t to see it as a goodbye, but more so as moving on to more important things, such as being closer to their son Simon, in Victoria. And they’re certainly not retiring, either; both will remain active with the Sooke arts community, and Michel will continue painting at his heart’s content.
The pair have opened art galleries in villages both in England and France, and spent a significant amount of time between the two countries. When they came to Sooke in 1987, they opened up a small art gallery where the Sooke News Mirror office currently is, and operated from there for several years. Marion specialized, and specializes, in creating custom picture frames, while Michel would create the unique paintings that would fill them.
Their time in Sooke wasn’t just strictly business though. Both have also worked closely with the Sooke Fine Arts Council as well as the District of Sooke on several fundraising and community projects, such as painting murals for numerous pump stations and bus shelters across town, as well as supplying all the frames currently displayed in the Community Hall Council Chamber.
And they won’t going anywhere without a celebration. On Oct. 25, all Sookies are invited to drop by the Sooke Fine Arts Gallery for a little party, complete with champagne and fine wine, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
news@sookenewsmirror.com