When John Pollard's ADA Gallery turns 6 years old in June, it may still have two locations. The new exhibition space is at 1829 W. Main St.; the former, at 228 W. Broad St., where Pollard brought in vital contemporary shows by regional and national artists, is on the way out.
Until then, the old space has been re-named the Black Hole, "disappearing near you," Pollard explains with a laugh. "There'll be bands and movies. And it'll just go until it gets rented."
Pollard, a Petersburg native, earned a graduate painting degree from the San Francisco Institute. His gallery's business model is for-profit, and he's a go-getter. Since 2006, he's attended a series of Art Basel and SCOPE fairs in Europe, Miami and New York City. Collectors of work from the ADA roster include photographer Cindy Sherman, musician David Byrne and seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong.
"Lance Armstrong told me he hated art dealers, but he liked me," chuckles Pollard, who says he's not a hard-seller. "Gallerists may hire guys like me, but I'm not interested in selling work I don't like myself."
At the Broad Street location, the gallery will show films by George Kuchar of San Francisco on March 14 at 9 p.m., with paintings by Richmonder Adrian Meyer on display. On March 20, ADA on Main opens with exhibits by Barbara Weiss, New York collage creator and watercolorist, and Charlottesville sculptor Tate Pray. For more information, call 644-0100 or visit adagallery.com.
