His Story

Please note that while Peter Bright has retired, the Gallery now owned by William Sheppard is still a vital part of Blue Mountain Village!

This is Peter Bright, the incredible owner of Brights Gallery in the Blue Mountains that we had the pleasure of meeting with. Ever since Peter was a child, he has had a strong passion for art and its beauty. It was through his experience living in Montreal and being surrounded by some of the most talented artists in Canada including artworks from the renowned Kastel gallery, that drove his strong interest for being in the industry and using his passion to excel in his career. He lived in Montreal for a number of years and moved to Oakville with his wife where he decided to purchase an art gallery in Burlington that was a destination gallery for artworks from Quebec. This gallery in Burlington had been displaying various artworks from Quebec since the 80’s, therefore had developed its strong reputation over the years. After learning the ropes of the industry, Peter was interviewed for an opportunity to purchase a property space in the Blue Mountain village that was previously set aside by Intrawest for a gallery.  Peter seized this opportunity instantly to create what is now the Brights Gallery. Peter and his wife’s vision when they moved to the Blue Mountains was to augment the existing art scene that is prevalent in the community.

 

Business Description

Brights Gallery is a commercial art gallery located in the Blue Mountain Village that offers local art as well as various artworks from Canadian artists, that in most cases are showcased internationally and make a living from their art. The gallery is adding to the fibre of the community by offering art that isn’t readily available nearby. With that being said, artists local to the community are sometimes showcased in their business such as Brian Porter. 

What Customers Love Most About Brights Gallery

A comment that is repeated by many customers that enter the gallery is the high number of art pieces that not only capture their interest and love, but also are desired for actual purchase in their homes. Typically, in a gallery setting customers may want one or two pieces that may speak to them in one form or another. Peter’s Gallery is unique because it offers something for everyone and all customers that walk through his doors fall in love with multiple paintings in the first visit. Many special memories have been formed for Peter throughout his time at the gallery. He highlights the fact that all people who purchase art are different, and that each individual finds the painting that speaks to them and that becomes a cosmic experience. When somebody goes through the process of purchasing a painting and making all ends meet to have this artwork in their home, it is a positive emotional experience for all involved. Recently, Peter held an event at the gallery that showcased seven local landscaped artists that would not normally be available for display at the gallery. It was very successful and well attended, therefore Peter is leaning towards organizing another show in the near future.

Something Unique Most People Don’t About the Business 

In the art industry in Canada, there are approximately 14,000 artists that declare themselves to be professional artists to the government. Of those 14,000 artists, there is only about 150 that make their sole income off of their artworks themselves. Brights gallery is associated and in collaboration with all 150 of these artists, and has the ability to get any of their works from any gallery across North America and deliver it to their gallery for clients to admire and purchase. A good piece of art has something intangible yet powerful in any art gallery, a strong feeling and emotional connection when a piece is hanging on a wall, along with the ability for the art to last a long period of time. Another interesting fact about Brights Gallery, is the fact that it has a very small employee base creating an intimate and family atmosphere in the gallery. They have employed only four people over the entire period they have been open in the village (10 years). 

What Peter Loves Most About the Community

Peter highlights the local community aspect and how every business supports each other, directly or indirectly. He comments about the three distinct pockets that exist in the Blue Mountains (Thornbury, Collingwood, and the Village), and how they are all connected and growing through collaboration of networking committees and other means. He also loves the family aspect of the area, and the abundance of outdoor activities there is available to everyone in the community. A few examples of his favourite things to do with his family in the spring and summer months include; swimming in the beautiful bay, kayaking down the Beaver River, biking on all the trails, and hiking on the escarpment. He enjoys visiting all of the restaurants in the community, as they all offer delicious food and a different experience.