Ken MacDougall. Free to a good home

Think you can't afford to hang a Ken Bradford, John Keast or Ken MacDougall?

Think again.

Those are three of 30 artists whose work is among the pieces the Art Gallery of Algoma will be renting out as it restarts its long-dormant rental program.

Of the 50 or so pieces the gallery has ready to rent, 30 will be rented for free at a fundraising gala on Saturday, gallery Director Curtis Collins tells SooToday.com

He's seen here with Winter at Mamaisi by John Keast, an oil on canvas completed in 2000 and one of the free rentals that will be given away Saturday.

Collins says there will be plenty of good works still on hand to be rented after the gala.

"The art rental program is a terrific opportunity for artists and the community," he said. "It offers regional artists an opportunity to get their work out there and it offers the community a chance to see work they might not have seen otherwise."

There will be a call for artists in the region to submit work for the rental program in early January.

By late January, Collins hopes to have about 100 pieces available to be rented.

He says the program is also an opportunity for the gallery to showcase more artists than it could in the gallery space.

A portion of the cost to rent a work of art goes to the gallery and a portion goes to the artist, he said.

Some rentals also result in sales.

Some of the sale price goes to the gallery but the lion's share goes to the artist.

For people wanting to get in on a chance to rent one of the pieces free, there are still a few tickets available at the gallery for the first annual Art Gallery Algoma Auction and Loan Gala, which takes place tomorrow starting at 7 p.m.

Collins will be making draws for the free six-month art rentals at 7:45 p.m. and 10:15 p.m.

Artists whose work is being rented out for free have donated what they would have made off the rental just for the gala.

The evening features live music and complimentary food and beverage service and the gallery will be auctioning off 14 pieces including original paintings and prints by artists including Roberta Bondar, Norval Morriseau and Ken MacDougall.

Collins said there will be a few tickets available at the door but, to avoid disappointment (and get a parking spot) try to get there early, or better yet, call the gallery (949-9035) to buy a ticket in advance.

For more information on the gala click here.