The Lake Country Art Gallery has a solution for artists weary of making champagne tastes in colleagues’ art meet the beer budget all too often associated with the sector.
After noticing a recent article in the Capital News on the difficulties artists face being asked to donate work for free while earning a modest income, gallery curator Katie Brennan came forward to point out her gallery’s solution.
In two separate events this month, the little gallery on Bottom Woodlake Road will offer up affordable solutions to buying original art, first with the Under 100 show and second with Deck the Walls.
“Both are here to support artist,” she said. “If an artist brings in (his or her) own work for auction in Deck the Walls, we’re increasing their purchasing power.”
Deck the Walls allows anyone with art they want out of the house—whether it’s an older item currently sitting in a closet or a new piece an artist is hoping to move—to bring the piece down for appraisal and get it into the market.
Deck the Halls was designed to take art anyone isn’t interested in owning anymore and put it up for appraisal. The gallery gets the appraisal fee—hence it’s a fundraiser—and the owner gets event dollars toward a new piece of art of their choice.
Hosted at the Aspen Golf Course, the event includes tapas and wine and already has a large Jim Kalnin piece and a Gladys Goode watercolour.
Also in the gallery at the moment is the Under 100 show. Originally pitched to artists as an opportunity to sell 100-inch works for under $100, it was immediately a hit when it was introduced two years ago. Now in its third incarnation, the show has morphed to include 200-inch works under $200 and 300-inch works under $300 and has a steady stream of art flowing through the doors for Brennan to curate and hang.
She began this show with 393 pieces and the gallery has since sold 54, though it’s also still hanging many more.
“I put all 393 pieces down on the floor and then I arrange them by colour. So I make a blue wall and green wall and a red wall and then I siphon off enough for the coffee shop (next door),” she explained. “Then once I have the colours laid out, it’s about making a pleasing composition. It’s all done by feel at that point.”
Unlike commercial galleries which typically take 50 per cent of the sale price, the event only takes 30 per cent of the profits, giving local artists a boost for the Christmas season.
Already on the walls are works by Kit Bell, Margaret Kyle, Virginia May and Jim Laing, among countless others. One piece of jewelry sits at the front door, an antler bone necklace by Lori Mairs.
The Under 100 show runs through Dec. 22 at the art gallery, 10356A Bottom Wood Lake Raod and Deck the Walls will be held 6 p.m. Saturday Dec. 1 at the Aspen Grove Golf Club, 10303 Bottom Wood Lake Rd.
The fee to ender art in Deck the Walls is $20, which includes two tickets to the event.
Tickets to simply come to the evening are $5 each and everyone is invited to come and purchase the original works of art.
Art will be appraised to a maximum of $500 and those who wish to share in a meal must pre-order dinner. Details can be found on the website www.lakecountryartgallery.ca.
