Help me help someone get their sculptures exhibited in Toronto.
February 5, 2011 3:58 PM Subscribe
How does an established professional but not well known artist best go about 'exhibiting' a collection of beautiful metal sculptures in Toronto?
Would they have to rent their own space and throw an event?
Do they pitch/apply to various galleries? Which ones?
Asking for a friend! Thanks in advance...I love the green.
Don't rent a space and throw an event. It's going to cost a fortune and it looks unprofessional. What are you, Mr. Brainwash? If your friend doesn't have connections of his/her own in Toronto, s/he should consult the galleries with which s/he is currently established and see if they can make some networking happen.
posted by milk white peacock at 9:46 PM on February 5, 2011
posted by milk white peacock at 9:46 PM on February 5, 2011
There's the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition and the Toronto International Art Fair.
(I am not an artist and have no idea if these are worth the effort to attend as an artist. But I've attended both.)
posted by thecjm at 12:40 AM on February 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
(I am not an artist and have no idea if these are worth the effort to attend as an artist. But I've attended both.)
posted by thecjm at 12:40 AM on February 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
Does s/he have any space s/he owns / rents, and is comfortable with people seeing? Self-hosting a 'reservations only' system can work.
I would also approach buildings with commercial space for rent. Propose to use your art to beautify their space; when someone rents it you remove the art. Not affiliated with them, but Phantom Galleries does this in LA.
posted by chrisinseoul at 6:54 AM on February 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
I would also approach buildings with commercial space for rent. Propose to use your art to beautify their space; when someone rents it you remove the art. Not affiliated with them, but Phantom Galleries does this in LA.
posted by chrisinseoul at 6:54 AM on February 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
Keep in mind that artist-run centres typically program one or even two years in advance. Also, going by your very brief characterization of the work, I'm guessing (only guessing) that your friend might find a more receptive audience with a commercial gallery, of which there are dozens upon dozens in Toronto.
There are also a fair number of rental galleries in the area, which could be useful depending on what your friend is looking to get out of the show. Emerging artists use them to document their work in an exhibition context, and I'm sure people use them effectively to drive sales. Trying to pass a show in such a space off as a bona-fide gallery show, however, in the context of grant/job applications is spectacularly tacky bordering on dishonest.
Akimbo's calls for submission page is probably a good place to turn.
I must say, though, that I'm confused as to how anyone you'd call an "established professional"* wouldn't already know all of this.
*"Established artist" actually means something quite specific in Canada—per Canada Council for the Arts guidelines, it entails a minimum 15-year exhibition record and international recognition in one's field.
posted by wreckingball at 1:49 PM on February 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
There are also a fair number of rental galleries in the area, which could be useful depending on what your friend is looking to get out of the show. Emerging artists use them to document their work in an exhibition context, and I'm sure people use them effectively to drive sales. Trying to pass a show in such a space off as a bona-fide gallery show, however, in the context of grant/job applications is spectacularly tacky bordering on dishonest.
Akimbo's calls for submission page is probably a good place to turn.
I must say, though, that I'm confused as to how anyone you'd call an "established professional"* wouldn't already know all of this.
*"Established artist" actually means something quite specific in Canada—per Canada Council for the Arts guidelines, it entails a minimum 15-year exhibition record and international recognition in one's field.
posted by wreckingball at 1:49 PM on February 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks everyone!
The artist is not from Canada.
@wreckingball - I think the commercial gallery (of which there are dozens upon dozens in Toronto) sounds like the best idea.
Do you know of any commercial gallery in particular that would be most receptive to displaying this type of work? Would one simply show up and ask to speak to the owner?
posted by anewnormal at 6:59 PM on February 6, 2011
The artist is not from Canada.
@wreckingball - I think the commercial gallery (of which there are dozens upon dozens in Toronto) sounds like the best idea.
Do you know of any commercial gallery in particular that would be most receptive to displaying this type of work? Would one simply show up and ask to speak to the owner?
posted by anewnormal at 6:59 PM on February 6, 2011
Response by poster: @wreckingball - thank you for the Akimbo link it's a great help.
posted by anewnormal at 8:07 PM on February 6, 2011
posted by anewnormal at 8:07 PM on February 6, 2011
Response by poster: @thecjm thanks those are great suggestions. Please everyone keep them coming :)
posted by anewnormal at 8:09 PM on February 6, 2011
posted by anewnormal at 8:09 PM on February 6, 2011
Your friend should contact the gallery (by phone or email, I wouldn't just stroll in off the street) and ask what their submissions policy is.
posted by milk white peacock at 2:10 PM on February 7, 2011
posted by milk white peacock at 2:10 PM on February 7, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by PinkMoose at 4:33 PM on February 5, 2011 [1 favorite]