It’s been six month since the opening of The Portal, the commercial gallery based on emerging local artists. In its third show, curated by managing director/artist Anya Tonkonogy, the theme has been loosely set as “Warmth.” There are more warm colours than previous shows, but other than that, no apparent attempt appears to have been made to adhere to the theme.
Not that one is really needed.
With a multitude of visual artists in their roster, many of whom are becoming staples to the curation, The Portal has become a haven for local artists to address their emerging profession. Each show so far has been a group showing; and although there is talk of solo exhibitions to come, the gallery is finding itself as the place for artists of similar elk and stature, artists who wish to exhibit, to sell, and to reach out to an audience on a continuous basis with samples of their newest works.
Artists: Vivian Bennett, Megann Christensen, Charlotte Falk, Giselle Denis, Cheryl Ervin, Jana Hargarten, Karen Nichols, Ross Snashall, Kamal Toor, Anya Tonkonogy, Trevor Warechen
4 comments:
I wanted to say that for emerging artists, the price tag is often a bit steep for my cheque book.
what will the prices be when they're established?
Sorry Amy,
I want to make a living being a painter. It's a serious profession and I shouldn't have to make photocopies for 8 hours and then come home to my real job for only an hour and a half. I price my work based on how many I can complete in one year (20 tops) and then figure out a modest salary for myself of $20,000 per year (divided by two because galleries take half). I feel I'm the one getting gauged here. The other thing is, the fewer paintings I sell, the more people will get to see them, and the more paintings I get to keep.
don't be sorry, I'm glad you shared your position. I think the idea of art purchasing, as anya and I have discussed before, is really misunderstood, especially here. what was it, that there is no "art world", just an art scene, and the difference is the value, not just monetary, that we place on art as a collection or investment. so back to my initial comment of not being able to afford art, I think I still have a hard time seeing a piece as an investment or collection no matter what it may be or who it's by to plunk down several months' rent. I'm sure I'm not the only one, and it is a collective problem, any ideas?
Art has always been a luxury item, and looking at today's auction prices, at the high end, it certainly continues to be, without any real change in sight...
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