At Vancouver Art Space we host monthly, themed art shows featuring local artists with a wide range of skills and mediums. If you are interested in participating in our juried events please check our “How to Prepare for a Show” blog and “Call to Artists” listings below.
Current show:
All works this month are original pieces created by VAS’s owner, Barbara Sheehan. Learn more bout her art career on the Meet Our Team page!
HOW TO PREPARE FOR A SHOW
So, you’ve made a piece of art and want to show it off, now what? When just starting out, many artists don’t know how to go about submitting work for an art show. You are not alone, we have all been there!
show Etiquette
Make sure to read through the directions that the curator has put on the Call. Not all curators and galleries follow the same processes or have the same policies. Reading through any and all contracts is a habit all serious artists should be consistent about; it will always benefit you to fully understand what a gallery expects of you and what you can also expect of them. Plus, it not only shows that you care enough about the process to double check details (making you a curator favorite), but in the long run it will prevent issues big and small. Overall, you don’t want to miss something, which may lead to being disqualified from a show!
Pay special attention to the following items:
Deadlines and Important Dates, Drop-off and Pick-up Details, Other Paperwork such as Inventories, Commission Rates, Size Requirements, Show Themes (if any), Shipping Requirements (pre-paid labels).
Another important thing to keep in mind when participating in shows is to support the gallery and your fellow artists by helping advertise shows via social media and word of mouth. Community and genuine networking can only be built when we all contribute to a common goal of supporting the arts. The gallery should always be promoting shows, but having participating artists also promotes the overall functionality and success of a venue and the creatives it hosts. This is also a good way to network with other artists by tagging (crediting) and following each other.
DOCUMENTING WORKS FOR SUBMISSION
To capture a quality photo we suggest using a digital camera vs phone camera, though if you have a more recent phone model you can still get quality images for submission. The goal is to offer a high quality (larger file size), clear, well lit, and usable image that best represents your work. A little studio set up and editing can go a long way in boosting your work to a professional level. Check out this simple tutorial by Charnes Edris on capturing photos with minimal gear.
*Tip: If submitting a paper work, take a photo or scan your piece before framing. If you want to have a nice photo of your work in it’s frame, take a photo without the glass installed to prevent glare and unwanted reflections.
HOW DO I PREPARE MY WORK FOR DISPLAY?
Works on paper or photographic prints should be matted and framed behind glass. NEVER submit or send a loose sheet of paper. When framing original pieces, there must be a mat placed between the piece and glass to prevent damage to the original work. The above piece is by artist, Barbara Sheehan, and has a double mat board.
The above image shows a properly wired piece with D-rings and wrapped wire from side to side, about ⅓ of the way down from the top of the frame. It’s very important that your piece has a secure and safe way to hang to prevent fall damage.
Canvases come in a variety of sizes and thicknesses. Some are better for framing than others and some frames are even built to hold canvases specifically. Either way your finished piece needs to be displayed professionally in a frame or with finished (painted) edges all the way around the canvas itself.
All Works should be ready to hang and display according to the medium it uses. This means framed or with finished edges, back-wired, and with the artist’s name and piece title at a minimum on the back. We highly suggest including a business card on the back if you have one.
SHIPPING & DROPPING OFF WORK
It’s worth investing in proper shipping boxes and packing material for your work. If art is not packaged correctly it could be damaged in transit and not only get ruined, but will arrive too damaged to be put in the show. Nobody wants that! Please use a box and packaging that will ensure that your work arrives safely even if you yourself are delivering. We suggest holding onto bubble mailers from personal orders and or newspapers as these items tend to be more accessible. Even if your work does sell, you can reuse your box and packaging ro future shows.
*Note: If shipping in work, VAS requires that artists include a pre-paid return shipping label. After a show is over we will use this pre-paid return label to send your work back to you in the box it came in.
When dropping off work, make sure to contact the gallery beforehand in case they need to schedule a time for drop off if one was not mentioned in the Call to Artists. Also, check in with staff when on-site to make sure all needed items (art, contract, and inventory) are present and ready to go!
Call to artists
To apply for a show, sign up or login through Enrtythingy linked below.
