Gossamer Gallery and Gifts

By Candice Smiley

Gossamer Gallery and Gifts

I think the part that intrigues me the most about doing these interviews are the incredible business owners and people I get to meet.

Here is Lois Hannam, who left her corporate job, found herself in a period of transition and knew she didn’t want to go back to the corporate world. She had long had a desire to own her own business. At one point in time, had even seriously considered buying a yarn shop, but had that particular opportunity “snatched out” from under her.

At this point, Lois pauses, sighs, and says, “Can I be honest? I knew that I was going to make fudge. And the rest, well I wasn’t really too sure, but I did know that it would all work out. My sister, in Cape Breton, owned a shop that sold fudge and everyone loved it, so while I didn’t have a solid written business plan, (still don’t!), I knew that fudge was a direction I was going.”

Lois started looking for a space, found one… and started taking to walking various Art Walks.

If it wasn’t for these art walks 'it's possible,'' Lois says, that “Gossamer would have been just another country store”. Of all the artisans she spoke to, it was the artists that seemed to jump at the chance. And so, Gossamer became an Art Gallery.

“I like photography and I can do drawing, but I don’t have a fine arts degree or any formal training,” Lois says. She treats the gallery as a living organism, allowing it and its growth to simply, “Go with the flow.”

Success and growth came quickly, as artists told other artists, who in turn told other artists who told other artists… “Thankfully, I owned the building”, Lois laughs, “so we could grow!”. She opened more space and a gift store and at any given time has 40-70 primarily Alberta artists featured in the gallery which now contains photography, photos, pottery, metal works, glass works, carvers, sculptures, painters, potters, and more!,

I have a knack for hanging the art so people want to take it home.”“Artists really like to bring their items to my gallery,” she says. “I like to tell stories with the art, both visually and verbally.

Other artists come to be part of the story telling, which Lois does well. It's at this point in the conversation that she mentions that people must “go check out the canvas of mural art that has been painted on the outside walls of the building. They are large, larger than life, unique…” and as Lois says, “I stand in awe of them.” As if that were not enough, the event, Jazz on the Veranda, is sponsored by the gallery as Lois continues to spotlight both visual and musical arts.

In 5 years of operating, they saw 2020 as being their best yet! She is grateful and says that people really seem to have come together this year; artists and patrons alike.

There is a smile in her voice as she tells me of the serendipity of this interview - her son gave her the book the Go Givers by Bob Burg years ago and said. “Mom, this is what you are all about. This story is about you, and then you might see how you live your life and why it works the way it does.”

I love that part. We share a moment to discuss the power of being in the flow again… and I can hear the smile in her voice as she comments, “The universe always has my back.” Indeed, it certainly seems to be!

Gossamer Gallery and Gifts

5215 51 Ave, Wabamun, AB Ph: (780) 892-2169

Lois Hannam