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June 2014

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excited again about gallery hopping thanks to ArtLocal

I have been hearing about the ArtLocal app  from the time they were having a poll to choose a name for it (I have no idea how I ended up on their email list but glad that I did.) When I first downloaded the app I was not sure if it woudl last long on my iphone but today all the good stuff I was waiting for popped on the screen.

The app is designed to help discovering hottest galleries, exhibitions and artists in the city all in one place. It also allows you to follow your favourite galleries and get updates which is somehow similar to a feature on my most favourite site Artsy (where you can follow favourite artists.) You can search  based on calendar and distance.

This is just great for planning gallery hopping adventures.

I think I would like to see the information about the show and the artist more visibly with a better design than a small pop-up boxed screen. A short description on the gallery would be useful too. I would also love to have a feature where I can save the shows I want to see, or the openings I want to go to or easily add them to my calendar. It might be there and I haven’t discovered it yet. I am sure their team is constantly improving features.

This is a much needed local app. I am quite excited about using it and highly recommend it to gallery hoppers alike.

Well it is going to be a busy weekend as there are tons of awesome galleries in walking distance as well as Luminato in full swing.

Happy gallery hopping!

Image below from Blonder Online by Jillian Kay Ross happening now at Division Gallery 

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If I were collecting

It is happening now – The Artist Project. It is one of my favourite art fairs for independent artists in the city. I participated two years in a row. This year I have been focusing on developing a new body of work as well as this new website so I missed being part of the hype and excitmenet of the fair.

Today I went as a visitor and had the luxury of time to take in the show in its true essence.  I was pleasantly surprised how little I knew about the diversity and breath of works that the show presents. I guess once you are exhibiting yourself, there is not much chance to go and see everything.  I was inspired and pumped up by all ways of seeing and views. I also experimented with a new way of  observing. Instead of looking through an artist eye, I decided to play a wannabe art collector. What would I buy for my private collection from local artists? Turns out quite a lot! I could literally have most of the Untapped Emerging Artists works,  Joani Tremblay and Alea Drain were my most favourite. Since I can’t afford to be a real collector (yet), I made this virtual collection  on Pinterest for the time being.  And below are my top three picks.

1. Comox Series One #19 by Kelly Rogers

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I fell madly in love with this piece! The image is great but you really have to see it close-up! The raw canvas is absolutely captivating and the dynamic lines draw you in. More than anything I loved those subtle drips. I usually like detailed work that I can get back to it over and over and this is minimalistic for me but I could look at it for hours.

2. from In a Quiet Light series by Lulu Ladrón de Guevara

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No wonder Lulu’s work is the chosen image of the Fair this year. I want to touch this work and have it above my desk on gloomy winter days to lift my spirit up. It is mysterious yet innocent.  She has also applied a very smart and innovative technique.

3. The Whale As A Bubble by Alea Drain

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Whales, bubbles, ocean, blue, whimsical, detailed, patterns …what’s not to like about this piece!