91原创 painter Susan Galick will open the doors to her new Fort 91原创 live-work studio with an open house on Nov. 30.

Beginning at 4 p.m. the reception will be open to the public, who are invited to tour the entire space 鈥� upstairs and down 鈥� and enjoy wine, punch and appetizers.

The studio, located in Bedford Landing鈥檚 Flat Iron Building, is  exactly what Galick has been waiting for since the riverside development was 鈥渏ust an empty chunk of land.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 been a dream of mine to have my own little retail and live-in space,鈥� said Galick.

Instead of purchasing a studio, however, Galick moved into a condo with a view of the Fraser River. But the Flat Iron Building 鈥� home now to a number of artists鈥� studios 鈥� seemed to call to her.

When a unit became available, Galick thought it would be the perfect opportunity to have a look, realize it wasn鈥檛 everything she鈥檇 built it up to be in her mind, and be done with it.

鈥淚 thought, when I walk in that door I will finally get it out of my head,鈥� said Galick.

鈥淚 fell in love with it five feet in the door.

鈥淚 looked at my realtor and said, 鈥楿h, oh.鈥欌��

The building, filled with places for artists and retailers to live and work in one spot, 鈥渋s such a wonderful concept,鈥� said the artist.

鈥淏edford Landing is like a mini Granville Island, with its artistic atmosphere. It鈥檚 really busy.鈥�

Galick plans to open her studio-gallery to the public three weeks of every month.

The fourth week, the artist plans to spend at her Beach Box studio in Sooke, on Vancouver Island.

Although she has not yet set them, the Fort 91原创 gallery鈥檚 hours will be regular, Galick promised, noting how frustrating it can be for visitors to make a trip out to the Valley, only to discover their destination is arbitrarily closed.

Working out of a small 200-square-foot space, Galick will sell her own, original artwork 鈥� colourful works, painted in a modern impressionist style 鈥� as well as six different types of soap from Fort 91原创 Soapworks.

A former soap maker herself, Galick is happy to let someone else take over, but she did paint the image of the Fort-to-Fort Trail which graces the bars鈥� labels, she said.

Susan Galick Fine Art Studio/Gallery opening reception will take place on Saturday, Nov. 30, beginning at 4 p.m. at #7 - 23230 Billy Brown Rd. in Fort 91原创.