FERRAGUDO WELCOMES ARTE ALGARVE’S NEWEST GALLERY
If Rolf Osang were ever to open a new gallery, it would have to be something quite special to follow in the footsteps of Arte Algarve, whose artworks hang on the walls of ÚNICA, a working winery in Lagoa. Four-and-a-half years after it first opened, the gallery owner has finally found what he deemed to be the perfect place for a second exhibition centre: a quirky townhouse in the fishing town of Ferragudo. Officially opened in March, the new Arte Algarve gallery is housed in a building just off the main square, on Rua 25 de Abril, and its pretty façade conceals a spacious venue set across I three storeys. Inside, the ground floor comprises three divisions of different sizes, where much of the theme is dedicated to the Algarve and the Alentejo regions. Walking up the stone steps, a small hallway leads to four further divisions, all of which boast the same natural light, original hardwood floors, exposed bricks, comfy sofas and restored antique furniture that enhance the many artworks on display here. The paintings and portraits are hung in an original way on metal frames that lend a workshop-feel to the gallery but which are also reminiscent of the town’s fishermen’s nets. The pièce de résistance, however, is a truly unexpected gem: the exterior terrace that extends across four different levels amidst the rooftops of Ferragudo. Offering a completely different perspective of the town, surrounded by chimneys and overlooked by one or two neighbouring cats, the outdoor area is also dotted with pretty and original artworks, from the stone sculptures in the newly planted garden and the metal insect sculptures placed on the walls, to the large wooden table that takes up most of the terrace which affords a pretty seating area with views of the bay. In all, there are around 15 artists represented here, all of different backgrounds but with connections to the region. “The Lagoa gallery is a fantastic, unique building, but we don’t get many tourists or passers-by. We thought we needed a second gallery in a beautiful place, with an authentic atmosphere and lots of individual travellers, and Ferragudo is truly the ideal place,” said gallery director Rolf Osang. While visitors got a first peek of the gallery at the vernissage on a sunny afternoon in March, where they enjoyed the wines from Quinta do Barradas and live music courtesy of Cory Sea, the gallery and its charming terrace will no doubt shine even brighter as the evenings get warmer. The Arte Algarve Ferragudo gallery is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to 3pm and 6pm to 9pm, and until late during the summer months.
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