By Sabine Murray
Once again, a great meeting! Thank you for all who came and participated.
For starters, we will be skipping a meeting in December, due to the busy holiday season. Our next meeting will be on Wednesday evening, January 17th, at 7pm at ArtExposure Gallery, Hampstead. Please see below for more details on the upcoming meeting.
Here are the highlights of what was covered:
- New exhibit opportunities for GTAA members are starting to pop up for us!
1. Berkshire Hathaway Home Solutions of Wilmington (on Market Street, between Front and Water) has offered us a month in 2024 to exhibit as a group show. I will get more info on which month, but opening night will be on a Fourth Friday Art Walk downtown. Berkshire Hathaway is located in an historic building, with beautiful brick wall space and gallery wire for hanging. We would have about 20 feet of wall space to cover on each side. More details to come once we get closer.
If you are interested, and were not at the meeting to sign up, please email me back.
2. Ellen Elder, owner of ArtExposure, has graciously agreed to begin having “Pop-Up” exhibits at the gallery for us starting in 2024. There will be a fee - more to come on that. The space for the exhibits is in the center of the gallery, using rolling walls that can accommodate quite a few pieces. This opens up the possibility of two artists - maybe three - who may not have a lot of inventory sharing a month (and any expenses). In addition to the venue, ArtExposure will provide marketing and advertising. Participating artists will be responsible for organizing an opening on the day or evening of their choice.
Again, if you are interested and were not at the meeting to sign up, please email me back and include whether or not you want a solo show or joint. Also indicate if there are any months in which you cannot participate.
3. It’s suggested to join the Wilmington Art Association, as they have some great opportunities for exhibits as well. Their website is https://wilmingtongallery.org - just click the JOIN tab and follow the instructions. Membership has its benefits including getting their newsletter.
The WAA has one very big exhibit each year - The annual Spring Art Show and Sale which is the official art show of the Azalea Festival each year, and held at the Hanna Block Cultural Arts Center. Membership now will also allow you to submit a piece of artwork to be considered for the 2024 Spring Show poster - Deadline for this is December 5, 2023 to have your art considered.
The WAA also has a month long exhibit each year at the Aces Gallery on Front Street, hosted by the New Hanover Arts Council. You would be able to participate.
The WAA has a relationship with Gallery Citrine in that the gallery will host WAA member exhibits. More info on how that will happen in 2024 to come.
– Information on grants and exhibition opportunities for artists:
1. Check out ArtworkArchive.com - free two week trial period when you create an account. Thereafter, $8/mo for apprentice (up to 100 images), $16/mo for professional (500 pcs) There are listings for grants and exhibition opportunities. The software itself allows you to inventory your work, keep track of sales, scheduling, income, etc.
2. Check out FineArtAmerica.com, especially if you do not yet have a website. A free account allows up to 25 images to be uploaded, a paid subscription is $30 for unlimited uploads and includes a personal website. FAA markets your work for reproduction as prints, on canvas, paper, as well as on other marketable items like mugs, blankets, phone cases and much more. You’ll need a PayPal account and to set up your account and collections of your artwork. The do all the work, including shipping - and you get your commission directly deposited to your PP account.
3. Subscribe to Juried Art Services (free) and they will notify you of upcoming competitions and exhibits vial email. You can create portfolios, keep track of your applications, and view your acceptance notifications there.
4. Grant information from the North Carolina Council for the Arts for 2025 is NOT yet available - and that includes the CARES act program. Once I get notification of anything opening up for the 2024-2025 cycle, I will share that with you. In the meantime, please DO register with ArtworkArchive.com if you can for artist grants other than those in NC.
Our Next Meeting is in January, 2024!
Again - We will not be having a December meeting. Our January meeting will be on Wednesday evening, January 17, 2024 at 7 pm at ArtExposure.
Just returning from a super inspiring calligraphy workshop in Italy, our very own Susan Polizzotto has agreed to do a live demonstration of Japanese calligraphy and may even let US try to do some! So DO NOT MISS this great opportunity to learn all about this amazing art form!
See you next year! - Sabine