The Art Gallery of Golden (AGOG) is trying out something new and exciting for their next upcoming exhibit: An anonymous art show.
“I Like It:” The Anonymous Art Show will open on November 16 at AGOG, which gives people plenty of time to create their pieces.
Everyone from the community is invited to pick up an eight-inch by eight-inch canvas frame or wood panel from the art gallery to create their art on. The excitement around the art show is that all of the art will be displayed anonymously, and sold for the same price once the exhibit opens. The idea is that after the opening, someone can go in to view the art, see something they like, and just buy it, regardless of who the artist is.
“The idea is that it opens it up to anybody in the community: People who are professionals, people who do it for fun, people who don’t ever show anything to anybody at all. They’re all welcome,” said Bill Usher, AGOG exeutive and artistic director. “So, a 10-year-old can do something, and somebody in the community likes it and buys it, and it’s the affirmation of what they’re doing, somebody liked their piece, and they can make some money off it as well.”
The anonymous art show draws its inspiration from the excitement and success of the North Vancouver Community Arts Council’s long-running art show, called Anonymous. Guided by the arts council, AGOG has been given persmission to run with the idea and transform it into something special for Golden.
Leading up to the art show, AGOG is also hosting workshops to teach people different techniques they can use on the panels, but the classes are already full. Anyone who wants to participate in the anonymous art show can still do so.
“For the community, it’s being able to buy things, gifts for Christmastime, original art that’s created by people, and you don’tknow if it’s one of these people that created it, or if it’s somebody that doesn’t have a name. It makes it a very kind of community thing,” Usher said. “The whole community is invited to come… Basically, the idea is, you like something, you buy it.”
AGOG has sold close to 100 panels and canvases already, and people have been going in to pick them up to start practising. Usher expects the panels and canvases will cover the one wall of the art gallery, and he hopes it will grow to cover more walls. The panels and canvases will be set up in a uniform grid for viewing.
Artists can submit up to three pieces for the show, which will open on November 16 and run until January 3. For more information or answers to any questions, e-mail info@kickinghorseculture.ca.
