Presentation and Exhibiting

  In scouring the internet when researching, etc. I run across tons of resources and thought I would share them with you.  Of course, I was scouring instead of finishing up the studio (see my last post).  I do need to get back in there and get everything put away so I can get some new work made for an upcoming exhibit but you know, like most artists, I seem to function only with deadlines. I don’t like deadlines or thrive on them but if left to my own devices…well, I wouldn’t get anything done without them. Does this sound familiar to you?  You’re not alone!

This page offers ideas for Avery’s two sided, clean edged, business cards and Avery’s Design and Print Online.

  http://www.avery.com/AveryNextGen/url/Newsletter/Volume-9-Number-2/Featured-Articles?ic_campID=4&ic_pkw=Jun+BusCards

  There are also articles there on how to use mail merge for mailing lists, and make address labels as well as other stuff.

  As an artist, it’s important to be aware of how you present yourself and your work. As a gallery curator/coordinator, I see artist’s work, resumes, biographies, etc. all the time.  I can’t stress enough how important it is to pay attention to your presentation. I have seen artist’s bring their work for hanging without any way to hang it and even terribly dusty and dirty.  Typically a gallery will clean the glass of a framed work if needed but it’s not necessary to subject the gallery to your dust or expect them to produce shadow boxes for your 3 dimensional pieces. 

  As an exhibiting artist, I think I can safely say that the presentation of my work to a gallery is half the battle of getting my work into an exhibit.  I know they appreciate the thought I’ve put into trying to make their job easier so that looking at what I’m offering isn’t a big headache to them.  Consider approaching a gallery for an informational interview to hear their ideas on what they want to see in the way of artist submissions.  If you submit what they want to deal with, even if it costs you a little money, could be worth the long run.  It’s not so scary if you know you’re submitting what they’re asking for. 

  Just remember that it isn’t your work or you that is “rejected”.  Oftentimes, it’s that you may not fit what the gallery is looking for in terms of type of work at that time. Submit again at a later date and try again. If possible, set up a meeting with them to hear what they were looking for, their selection process and if they have any advice for you. I know this sounds bold but look at it as research for the business of your work.  If a gallery has the time to meet with you use it as a precious opportunity to learn the things you wouldn’t know otherwise. Don’t look at it as one more time to hear why you didn’t measure up – it isn’t always all about you!  You will be very surprised by what you learn.  =)

Studio Re-organization, Part 2

    This is the new bank of drawers we put into my studio in place of a deep drawered dresser that was there.  I know it looks like a huge mess but that’s what re-organization looks like.  Not to mention, it’s pretty close to what the studio has been looking like for months now which prompted this re-organizing thing in the first place.

  A couple of things to keep in mind when going through this process is that for us visual, creative types out of sight means out of mind.  These drawers are just see-thru enough that it helps me to know what’s in them.  I have labels on the left side of each drawer but they don’t list everything in a drawer so the visual cue is just enough to flesh out the contents on the fly.

This picture is of trying out a configuration that I didn’t like very well.  It was visually confusing.  In the past, I’ve had Japanese Noren (door curtains) hang over this shelving unit so I wouldn’t have to look at the jumble of stuff in there.  That has worked for years but now it’s time for a change.  So Ken helped me last night put it together in a much more pleasing way – after all these years of subjecting him to all of those home dec shows on HGTV and stuff, he says “I wasn’t just watching those with you and drooling you know.”  =)  The next picture is the result of his fine sense and the aesthetic he has developed!

  Here you can really see how it came together. I have a weird passion for containers of certain types. Small luggage pieces, light train case repros, vintage boxes, antique boxes - that sort of thing.  Ken pulled them all together and arranged them for a nice visual.  Each one holds something specific: soldering kit, collage mediums like tea varnish, gold glaze, etc. and so on.  So each is very useful and pleasing to look at considering what all of these things look like sitting on a shelf un-contained. This works so much better and I can get all of the relative items by grabbing the one box and it’s already packed to take with me!  So it’s stored, portable and ready to travel. You gotta love that for efficiency.

  I re-hung my Hello Kitty Noren down below because it makes me laugh. Behind it are more drawers, of course. Sterlite makes stackable ones that are really deep. They’re stacked in twos across that shelf and hold bookbinding supplies, sales stuff, class samples, and even a ton of cookie cutters.  I still have more to do but a large part of this whole process is done.  Next post I’ll list what I’ve learned are good ways to organize a studio space. I’ve read a lot of books and of course, work with a lot of artists so have been able to distill some good pointers to share.  Have a great weekend!

About Reorganizing the Studio

  With things calming down to a dull roar and creating a small break from teaching, I’ve been able to turn to revamping the studio.  After all the travel teaching I’ve done and classes back here at home everything was everywhere…literally.  I have propane tanks in the dining room, an oven on the living room floor and more ridiculous decorating ideas (NOT!) going on here.  So it’s time to try and put it all back, right?  Oh what a laugh that causes me.

  Nope that wouldn’t do it at this point. What a mess I’ve made after almost two months on the road and then coming home and beginning classes again two days later. Okay so what to do? Rip the studio up of course! It was already pretty ripped up anyway so why not?   I’ve had these drawer units since January that I just haven’t had time to deal with. You know the drawer towers that have translucent drawers in them? I have about 5 of them here in all.

  Getting creative with storage resulted in taking a dresser out of the studio and putting most of those drawers in it’s place. The dresser ended up in the closet just outside of the studio so I still have that storage, too. Now I’m putting everything back into new places, labeling the drawers, etc.  The big goal is to get everything off the floor! I’ll post some pix of this process shortly.  I’ve figured out a lot about studio storage over the years and will share that, too.

See you next post!