Fifteen Days and Counting

Wednesday night's meeting of the artists participating in The Space Between The Words exhibit kicked off with a few moment of personal sharing.

I intentionally invited each artist to look within and share "How do you feel about your experience thus far working toward this exhibit?  What's been fun? What's been a challenge? What's the biggest surprise? "

This discussion brought us together as artists sharing the excitement and joy of creating new art pieces that would shortly be viewed by the public at an exhibit at the Vine Arts Center. Comments shared ranged from working towards goals, trying new materials and  first time exhibition jitters.

The evening discussions continued for two hours with participants seeking clarification on the display space allocated for each artist.

About 50% of the participants took advantage of the meeting venue being the Vine Arts Center and dropped off their art work. Everyone was circling around their own work and others so they could get a sneak preview of what had been created.  Something like an early Christmas viewing of packages, some partially wrapped, some fully wrapped and a handful of works totally open for all to see.

I can feel the excitement that everyone is experiencing and share the same anticipation as they're having.  It's been several years since I've been in an exhibit like this one and it's been both challenging and rewarding.

Fifteen days and counting til the "soft opening."

Art Exhibition Journey: Selling Art on Instagram

"Focus On Things You Love" shared on @wendywalks Instagram account

On my journey of being the art exhibit director for a group art show, I research ways to promote the Art Salon For Fertile Minds' upcoming exhibit: "The Space Between The Words." 

I found this article regarding

"How to Use Instagram to Invest in Art"  by James Tarmy

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-06-12/how-to-use-instagram-to-invest-in-art

Actually I read  it, as I often do, with my own personal magnifying glass on it with the questions:

"How am I going to sell my art and make new customer connections on Instagram."

"How can we promote the upcoming group art show on Instagram."

My takeaway from the article was to do the following:

(1) I opened up my Instagram account alongside the article. I connected with every one of the galleries and artists mentioned.

(2) When Instagram offered up similar accounts of  galleries and individual artists I perused their offerings and reached out to most, but not all of them.

(3) Within hours several of them connected back to me and followed my Instagram feed.

It seemed like baby steps in the right direction.

(4) I will continue to research additional galleries and artists to "listen/watch" their activity and learn from their marketing tactics.

(5) Now, going forward, I intend to be more strategic about the images I share as well as the new contacts I connect with.  I'm going to do a little more research about the types of images that artists share and when they post prices and "how to purchase" instructions.

Wendy the life-long learner continues to learn.

*Focus on Things You Love
text layout created in Studio image software and shared on @wendywalks Instagram account
https://instagram.com/p/4__qh-Lipq/?taken-by=wendywalks
    

Aribert Munzner's Painting Tools

Painter's Palette - August 2015

https://instagram.com/p/58h5T-Live/?taken-by=wendywalks

Last night I had the honor to visit the studio of renown artist, Aribert Munzner, life long painter, retired art professor from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD), member of the Vine Arts Center and more recently, participant in the group art show "The Space Between The Words."

Just walking into his studio was a visual delight with a considerable number of large paintings 6' x 5' and countless smaller ones.  I found it easy to be drawn into the large ones that felt  like you're going into outer space or even into a storybook land.

It suddenly strikes  me now that someone could write a sci-fi version of Alice In Wonderland with the main character(s) walking into Aribert's painting that landed you on a planet in outer space. I'll have to mention it to him when I see him next.

Back to the studio; I love documenting artists tools, especially their painters palette.  To me, the above image resembles fish swimming in a very colorful body of water. When I showed the image I create to Aribert, he was delighted and shocked that something he passed by everyday could, on it's own, because a work of art. I must admit, I  love it when he's happy and admiring my creativity.

Approximately two years I visited Aribert's studio and created my very first "painters' palette" image from his tools. I didn't realize it at the time but it became the first of a repetitive photographic theme that I create whenever the opportunity arises.

Painters' Tools - August 2015

https://instagram.com/p/58hnfcriu2/?taken-by=wendywalks

This photograph didn't want to be left behind because it wanted to show off Aribert's brushes and jars with a kiss of a digital manipulation for artistic effect.  Again, my attraction to artists' tools.

Patience, kind reader

Patience, Kind Reader.

My goal initially  is to work in two time frames simultaneously. If you've read some of my recent posts you might get an idea of what I'm up to.  If not, read on.

THE PAST:
I am going to fill in stories during the last nine months when I made the commitment to curate a group art show which has now evolved into "The Space Between The Words"  hosted by the Vine Arts Center September 3 - 26, 2015.   http://vineartscenter.org/spacebetweenwords/index.htm

Today, August 1st is where we draw the time line of current stories versus "catch up" posts on the past.  Older stories will be filled in somewhat chronologically so I'll be building the blog from two time frames because I always seem to do things 110% but with some added work thrown in. LOL

 

 THE FUTURE:

Going forward, I feel prompted  to share

** select images of emotive moments that I wish to photograph

** the "How To's" of photo products I make,

** the experience of curating a group art exhibit and, longer term,

** work/life balance stories of being a business professional as well as a passionate photographer.

I invite you to "Follow," ask photography questions, or any others, that I can help you with.

Thank you for your support and friendship.

Technology: too little, too much, just right

Okay, I've downloaded the Blogger app to my iPad mini (again.)  I think I did this before but disabled it for some good reason, I'm sure.

So let's see. Technology? How much is too little, too much, just right? To manage a group art exhibit what do I really need / want.  Who else will be on board with it anyway? Just me?

I honestly don't know. Here's my inventory of technological resources  for the moment:

(1)My Desktop has all the standard Word, Microsoft Office, Excel, plus my trusty old Adobe Photoshop and Picasa.
(2) the iPhone I'm trying to minimize the app installations now that my old phone is pretty filled up.
(3) It's this nifty little iPad Mini that will need to be monitored a bit, I supposed, so I don't go overboard with apps and RSS feeds from too many "how to manage a group art exhibit" websites. LOL
(4) I also need to study up on Evernote.  I know a biz woman who uses this to the max for team projects, which might be comparable to this effort.
(5) I'd like to give some thought on how I will use Facebook and Twitter, of course, and possibly LinkedIn.
(6) We'll see. And of course, I'll be creating, editing and manipulating digital images that I'll be exhibiting for the show.

All technology demands.
All great learning experiences.
Coincidentally today, for the first time in a year, I put on the t-shirt that says,
"The journey is the destination."

I would say that managing a group show and participating as an artist myself will certainly be an amazing journey. 

I'm ready.

Art Exhibit:Worse Case Scenario - Why Nobody Came

WHOA: I found this site while researching  "art exhibit promotions."
She (Allyson Stanfield) has everything and more.

Nothing like posting the bad news, Wendy.

"WHY NOBODY CAME"
http://www.artbizblog.com/2014/04/why-nobody-came.html
by Allyson Stanfield, April 2, 2014

But it's perfect because I always like to think BIG PICTURE, best case/worse case scenario and then plan accordingly.

So make note of this and don't let it happen for the Art Salon For Fertile Minds group show.

Art Exhibit Tip: Know Your Audience

Thinking and researching all the fun details of putting together an art exhibit.

Here's 10 Ideas for How to Promote Your Local Art Show or Group Exhibition
http://emptyeasel.com/2013/09/17/10-ideas-for-how-to-promote-your-local-art-show-or-group-exhibition/
Thank you  www.EmptyEasel.com

Fortunately, I know my specific audience:
Artists who have been engaged aka visited the Art Salon For Fertile Minds between inception, February 2011 until the approximate exhibit time in 2015.

woot hoot!
I'm excited!

Curating an Art Exhibition

I've given this a lot of thought and I've decided that I want to commit to curating an art exhibition sometime in 2015 consisting of the artist members of the Art Salon For Fertile Minds.

My goal is to curate an art exhibit with members that encourages
*personal creativity and group collaboration between the members,
*community engagement among local residents and, for myself,
*a new goal to create 5 - 10 new fine art images that follow within the same theme
*a platform  to display and sell new images reproduced on canvas

I think the artist members are ready to take on the challenge and would welcome the opportunity to work toward a fine art show for many of the same reasons I do.

Yes, I can.
Yes, we all can.