Isabella at the Isabella Egan Gallery Opening

Masters Graduate of Sothebys, Isabella Egan, was working as the Manager of the Monte Clark Gallery in Vancouver.  Now she is the Isabella of the The Isabella Egan Gallery which has been going since March of this year. Isabella’s bang began with a launch. The launch was wrapped in a perfect party, privately opening the gallery with class and a ton of buzzing excitement!

Dynamically filling the void in the Vancouver art industry, the Isabella Egan Gallery is introducing exceptional new artists from both the province and around the world to the growing market of local collectors. The Gastown gallery itself is a haven for those wishing to either develop an existing collection or take their first steps to becoming an art collector. Dedicated to making the art industry as transparent and understandable as possible, the Isabella Egan Gallery is a home for those wishing to increase their knowledge and expand their horizons within the international art market.

Loaded Bow: Considering you were the manager of Monte Clarke for two years, has the transition to working in a gallery of your own been similar to how it was working for someone else?

Isabella Egan: Working for Monte Clark was a wonderful experience and a fantastic opportunity to learn from one of Vancouver’s best. But I’ve got to say there is nothing quite like being ones own boss. It’s an incredible feeling and something I’ve worked towards for a number of years. There is more responsibility now (it’s my name and reputation above the door), but also more freedom. The transition was pretty painless as MC was incredibly supportive of what I wanted to do and I still very much have him as a mentor. I think one of the hardest things about “going solo” so to speak was accepting the good and the bad, and knowing that whatever happens the buck stops with me. It’s a steep learning curve opening your own business, but I was very lucky in the support of my peers as well as my family and friends. The business similarities to running someone else’s gallery to running my own are definitely there, but from working in a number of different galleries and art business I was very clear on some differences that I wanted to implement in my own space. It’s a great feeling to wake up in the morning and know that the make or break of the business is my sole responsibility.

Monte Clark Gallery

LB: Can you tell us a bit about how your prior experience in the industry has helped you in your launch of the Isabella Egan Gallery?

IE: I started at the Redfern Gallery in London under the tutorledge of Maggie Thornton, one of London’s leading art dealers. I learned an awful lot from Maggie about the importance of a professional out look. Sotheby’s taught me a lot about the international art market. I learned about a diverse spectrum of art market externalities, from Art Law, to Marketing to Ethical business practices whilst being encouraged to participate on a number of different levels. It was a great experience and I would recommend the Masters course to anyone interested in getting involved in the art industry. From Sotheby’s I created the CCC (Contemporary Collectors Club), which is an international members club designed to encourage and increase the involvement of a younger generation of collectors in the international art market. After that was up and running and doing well I moved to Vancouver and the Monte Clark Gallery, I continue to run the CCC and well I guess the rest is history! All of these factors and learning curves, mentors and experiences brought me here to where I am today. I don’t think I would be here without any of each individual experience. Without the steps to get here that I’ve taken I don’t think I would be capable of creating the Isabella Egan Gallery and running it to the high level of competence that I have been taught to expect!

LB: Since you have opened in March, have the day to day functions of the business gone as you had expected? If not, what have been the biggest surprises?

IE: I think I’ve got to say that it has pretty much gone as planned. I’ve been slightly overwhelmed by the positive feedback and encouragement that I’ve received from both the general public and art market participants! I’ve also been bowled over by how lucky I am to work with such talented and wonderful artists.

Zoë + Gen at the Isabella Egan Opening

LB: The launch pictures of the Grand Opening for the show “For Instance” are hot and fun and it looks like there are so many people in the room. When people are browsing online, how do launch pictures affect how people view your gallery?

IE: I popped them on the sight because I was proud of them and the turn out we had for the opening. I want people to feel welcome and relaxed in the gallery and I hope that having something a little fun like the party pictures on the site will allow people to feel that the gallery is accessible. Also, lets be honest the crowd at the opening was beautiful! So many young, trendy and attractive people in one room! What’s not to shout about!

For Instance Opening

LB: As a young gallery, how do you decide which events and openings and Art Fairs to attend?

IE: That’s a tricky one. I wish I could go to them all, but its only me here and I run the space myself so I can’t jet off everywhere on a whim so I cherry pick, normally based on if there is a particular artists I want to see or a particular gallery I want to meet or a collection I would like to see.

LB: So many small businesses go under early on. When you start your own business, are you able to set aside your financial worries and just put your head down and get the job done or should women be keeping this at the center of their workday and driving everything around financial success?

IE: If you can set aside your financial worries you are a very lucky person! I don’t think I’ve slept properly since I started this venture, but that’s part of what keeps me thriving. I believe complacency can lead to boredom and I’m determined to keep the gallery fresh and active. I think it goes without saying that any successfully business will always keep their eye on the financial ball. It’s finding the balance between ensuring that you maintain a clear and present idea of your financial capabilities and making sure that you allow yourself to plan and focus on running the business properly!

Clearly, Isabella had a fabulous launch!  Looking at her pictures made me reflect on all of the openings that I’ve been to – both for myself and others.  I was inspired to look at some of my launch pictures.  Some openings a big hit, while others flop even though they feature great work.   The reasons that some galleries get great attendance depends largely on the popularity of the artist and the popularity of the hosts parties. A hosting gallery and/or the hosting artist must have a history of hipness to bring together crowds of hipsters. I will tell you clearly and truly (and you can ask anyone I lived with in Montreal), though I am a social being with a bit of charisma, I have never been, nor have I ever strived to be, a happening girl. One photo I found exemplifies both a need for a younger crowd at my events and also a dire call for my work to be purchased from people outside my extended family. I present to you, a photo of my great aunt proudly displaying her first “Zoë Pawlak original” for the camera.

Support from Aunty!

We would love to see YOUR ”bad launch” pics!  Please send them to zoe@loadedbow.com so we can have a launch-off of the best of the worst!

zoë+loaded bow

Roy Arden. Construction Site with Suntower, Vancouver, BC. Ink Jet Print. 40 x 50 inches. Edition of 5. Image Courtesy of the Monte Clark Gallery.

I should have written this a long time ago and Im quite annoyed at myself for letting this slide.

For those of you looking for something arty to do in Vancouver now the weathers changed and you don’t fancy wandering around in the rain, head to the Vancouver Art Gallery and check out the Roy Arden exhibit and the Mark Lewis solo show.

In my (slightly bias opinion) these two artist are two of Vancouver’s most influential and important contemporary artists. 

For those of you looking to invest in either of these artists now is a very exciting time. For the younger collectors out there, I would be considering either one of Mr Ardens Fragment series or if you are a little edgier one of his brand new collages.

Im not going to review either show as there has been a lot of press already but if you would like to read more check out the links below for just some of the press:

The Vancouver Art Gallery 

The Georgia Straights

The Calgary Herald 

75 Years of Collecting 

Vancouver born, Shanghai based photographer Greg Girard opened last week at the Monte Clark Gallery in Toronto. Now as we know I like to promote our artists, so many of you may feel that I’m biased. OK, so sometimes I am, but when it comes to Girard, I really dont think that it is bais to rave about how incredible an artists is when the North America seems to be in agreement.

The Monte Clark Gallery opened last Saturday the first part of a two part exhibition, showing recent works by Greg Girard from his Phantom Shanghai series. I don’t think I can stress how beautiful these works are. On top of this, they are also exceptionally well priced. For young collectors looking to invest in a work of art, Girard offers an incredible opportunity to acquire a well educated and respected photographer. For the established collector, Girard’s works are an important edition to a photography collection. He was educated and photographed along side the likes of Roy Arden and Jeff Wall, while also playing a fundamental roll in the development of modern day photojournalism.

“Beginning in 1998, Girard’s extensive investigation into the accelerated metamorphosis of Shanghai looks at a historical city that will not withstand China’s drive for economical development. The images depict not only the passing of these neighborhoods, but also the disappearance of the residents themselves. The long exposures capture inhabitants as ghostly figures fading from their traditional lifestyles.

Distracted by the pace and scale of Shanghai’s phenomenal recent growth it is easy to overlook the reason so much of the city’s early 20th Century neighborhoods were preserved as long as they were: urban development for profit was suspended for more than four decades following Mao’s victory in 1949. Preserved by a kind of benign neglect, these period homes, buildings and neighborhoods are now being purposefully demolished to make way for Shanghai’s vision of itself as a modern “world” city. Today’s brief historical moment, as one Shanghai collapses into the other, is the last chance to witness the phenomenon of these two Shanghais occupying the same space.

Condemned Neighborhood is an example of how Girard uses urban light, both artificial and natural, to infuse an emotional and personal response to his photographs. The freshly laundered shirts dangling from the window of this half-demolished dwelling encompasses the tenacity of Shanghai’s community. We have all experienced the evolution of a city, rarely do we see one lead itself into oblivion.”- Alysha Rajukuma. Monte Clark Gallery.

Greg Girards recent solo show at MCG Toronto coincides with the release of Magenta Publishers newest photography book Greg Girard – Phantom Shanghai.

For more information on Phantom Shanghai and Greg Girard check out the following links.

http://chasingthedragon.blogs.fortune.com/2007/05/29/phantom-shanghai-portraits-of-vanishing-city/

http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/artslife/story.html?id=ceb4139b-051e-437c-9d97-ea6493b16e92&k=45928

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1617169,00.html

First up, I feel I should appologise for not posting anything for a while, but life got extreemly busy all of a sudden.

I recently mentioned the opening of a new show by Greg Girard at the Monte Clark Gallery, here in Vancouver. But I failed to mention Gregs phenomenon success that is currently sweeping the international art market.

He was recently the focus of Megenta publishers who have written and published a book about Greg’s works in Shanghai, China, called Phantom Shanghai. The first edition of the book sold out globally in two weeks and has been taken on by Thames and Hudson for a second larger run.

I love Gregs works. Personally I havent been so moved by an artists for a long time. Not only is his works quite incredilby and inspiring, he is also an exceptionally nice and talented guy. Really pleasure to work with.

As far as the young contemporary collector is concerned. You couldnt really go wrong investigating into investing in works by Greg Girard. (I myself rescently had the pleasure of aquiring a piece. I have to pinch myself everyday so that I know that im not dreaming!)

To see a few more images by Greg and to learn a little more about the man, check out this link.

The Monte Clark Gallery Vancouver is pleased to announce a solo exhibition of previously unseen works by Shanghai based photographer Greg Girard.

SAILORS:

Greg Girard

May 26^th to June 30^th , 2007

Opening Saturday 26^th May, 2 – 5pm

Artist in attendance

The exhibition SAILORS is comprised of eleven photographs of young American servicemen based on both sides of the Pacific during the final years of the Cold War, between the fall of Saigon (1975) and the fall of the Berlin Wall (1989.) American ground troops had recently been withdrawn from South Vietnam and the Saigon Government would fall shortly afterwards, but the US continued to maintain a network of military bases in the region, which Girard visited whist traveling South East Asia.

“I wanted to be a photographer probably in the same way that young men used to want to join the Navy: to leave home and see the world. I was 18 years old, the sailors not much older than myself.”

Inspired by the photo “Sailors Key West” by Marie Cosindas, which he saw in the early 70’s, and in awe of the transient life and bravery of such young men, Girard began to capture the chaos and lives around him. This passion for depicting life as it is became the basis of his future career as a photojournalist and later as a full time photographer working on his own artistic projects.

Girard was born in Vancouver, and has been living in Asia since 1983 where he has worked extensively as a photojournalist for magazines such as Time and Newsweek. Since 1983 he has also pursued personal photographic projects such as his study of the Kowloon Walled City which culminated in the book City of Darkness (1993).

In 2002 Girard co-founded the picture agency documentChina, an online archive of contemporary photography from China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. : www.documentchina.com

2007 also sees the publication and international release of a Greg Girard monograph published by Magenta Foundation, “Phantom Shanghai” which includes 135 images representing the changing tide of architecture and development in Shanghai.

Recent exhibitions include:

Kwangju Biennale, Kwangju, South Korea, 1997;

Cities of the Twenty-first Century, The Bauhaus, Dessau, Germany, 2000,

Cities on the Move presented at the Hayward Gallery, London, 1999, Kiasma, Helsinki, 2001 and

Phantom Shanghai Monte Clark Gallery Toronto. 2005

DOWNTOWN Monte Clark Gallery Vancouver.

Filmmaker Mark Lewis wins Gershon Iskowitz Prize

Last Updated: Tuesday, May 15, 2007 | 12:06 PM ET

CBC Arts 

Mark Lewis, a Hamilton, Ont.-born photographer and filmmaker, has won the $25,000 Gershon Iskowitz Prize for his contribution to visual arts in Canada.

The prize was created in 1985 by abstract artist Gershon Iskowitz and now is jointly administered by Toronto’s Art Gallery of Ontario and the Gershon Iskowitz Foundation.

Lewis is known for his avant-garde works that explore film technique, including Rear Projection (Molly Parker) in which Deadwood actress Parker stands in front of a rear screen projection of the abandoned Howlin’ Wolf café and gas station. 

The AGO has one of Lewis’s most famous works in its collection. Algonquin Park, Early March is a four-minute zoom out of a scene in the park, beginning with a white screen that the viewer initially takes to be sky but proves to be the frozen surface of a lake.

“Lewis returns to the locale made familiar and famous by the Group of Seven painters, artists such as Tom Thomson, and realizes a work of startling revelation,” David Moos, AGO curator of contemporary art and a member of the prize jury, said in a release Tuesday.

Lewis’s work often makes connections between artistic traditions, such as those of the Group of Seven, and the newer traditions of cinema, including green screen and digital technology.

Lewis, 50, started out as a photographer and began to experiment with film in the 1990s.

He now lives and works in London where he is principal lecturer of research at Central St. Martin’s School of Art and Design.

He founded Afterall – a research and publishing organization – and the Afterall Journal, which brings together international artists to discuss their work in each edition.

Lewis will be presented with the award May 31 in Toronto

As we all know my major passion over here is Photography. So it’s with a lot of pleasure I’m blogging about CONTACT – Toronto’s Photography Festival.

This years theme is the Constructed Theme in short this means the festival will be looking at “the numerous ways images are now constructed and how they have irrevocably transformed photography’s relationship to reality. CONTACT 2007 explores the fusion of practices that has transformed the nature of photography into a new hybrid genre.”

Sponsored by Hewlett Packard, this year there is a competition to nominate your personal favorite photographer as well as the chance to have individual 20 min sessions with Curators, art dealers, directors, publishers and photo editors to provide portfolio reviews for established and emerging photographers in commercial or fine art photography. Some of the most highly respected international professionals in the field will provide one-on-one critiques for photographers seeking guidance on career development and opportunities for publishing and exhibiting internationally. – Just fantastic.

My personal favorite and someone to look out for is Sam Taylor-Wood. Born in 1967, in England, and represented by White Cube Gallery London and Matthew Marks Gallery New York (to name but a few), her works are simply breath taking. Also check out the beautiful works of Ilkka Haslo (Finland) and Erwin Olaf (Holland)

Also keep an eye out for the slightly disturbing but visually fascinating works by Miao Xiaochun (China) who was recently acquired by the Saatchi Gallery in London and also Monte Clark Galleries own Scott McFarland. (Canada)

For more information on the artists mentioned above, Click here for the essay provided by CONTACT

Karin Bubas, Girl with Horse. 2006. C – Print, 60″ x 60″ Edition of 6. (Work on Exhibition by the wonderful Karin Bubas at Artists for Kids.)

For those of you on the North Shore or thinking of going over the Lions Gate this weekend, I recommend you check out a really great cause and a great exhibition put together by Artists for Kids.

This years annual spring exhibition is called “Artists as Photographer” the exhibition runs from April 16th to May 12th featuring a number of internationally and locally renown artists such as Rodney Graham, Michael Snow, Edward Burtynsky, Gordon Smith, Douglas Coupland, Gu Xiong, Karin Bubas and Irene F. Whittome.

The exhibition reveals exciting approaches to contemporary photography from Polaroids, enlargements and light-boxes to motion film. For those of you possibly crossing the water to visit the likes of Presentation House, to get your photographic fill this is a really nice added extra.

I hope that you get a chance to have a look around the exhibition!

So it was a great talk! What more can I say? Mr Wall kept us all on the edges of our seats with his fascinating insight into both his works and his personality.

Possibly my most favorite part was when Jeff Wall said that he’s not a student of art history… he said that he has studied art history to learn what he can from the past and what is it Mr Wall said he has learnt? He has learnt that there are Standards. I loved it. It’s not about doing something new and finding the next big thing or phase. It’s not about being purely innovative. It’s about being good at what you do and meeting the standards set by ones predecessors. Just Great.

After a very flattering and well constructed introduction by K. Bartel from the Vancouver Art Gallery, Jeff talked for about an hour and a half and then opened the floor to questions. 4 questions to be precise. One was asked by the wonderful Chris Gergley and one by a prominant member of the ADAC.

My one thought….. they had a sold out auditorium….. a sold out secondary video projection room….. so why oh why did no one think about opening this up to the 21st century? This would have been a fantastic podcast! The Tate have mastered it, the MoMA have mastered it…. why haven’t the VAG embraced the new technology? To have podcast this lecture would have been a positive stride into the 21st century and proved that the VAG can maximise the use of new media in the art market.

That aside, it was a great turn out by Vancouver with a good cross section of collectors, ADAC members (who flew in from across Canada for the talk), members of the VAG and students in the audience.

Jeff Wall. Picture Courtesy of the Vancouver Art Gallery.

What can I say! It’s finally here. Thursday the 12th April 2007. The much awaited date and much talked about and anticipated event is happening this evening!

Jeff Wall is to host a talk at the Vancity Theater this evening. After his phenomenal success at the MoMA and incredible spike in popularity and interest his talk apparently sold out from the VAG in half an hour! With Collectors, Curators members of the general public and pretty much anyone with a pulse trying to get tickets.

I will promise to write a post tomorrow filling you all in with the details and gossip from the night!

Vancouver Harbour.

So I know that you Vancouverites love getting out and about and with the weather changing it’s looking like it’s going to be a wonderful weekend in Vancouver.

So bearing in mind then need to be out and about and also trying to find a way to fuel the need to filly your arty void I started thinking about what I would like to do.

Obviously if the sun is shinning its key to be able to soak up as much of that as possible – Let’s be honest the rain was beginning to get us all seriously down!

I started thinking about walking tours of Vancouver’s art scene. There are a number of fabulous walking tours to be done, from the hustle and bustle of downtown, to the serenity of S.Granville or the hippie vibe of Main and Commercial.

For more info check out this link,

or email me and I’m more than welcome to fire you my top two walking tours!

Or if that doesnt float your boat! Just get out there this weekend! Its a beautiful city!Kits Beach at Sunset – Photo by IzzieEgan.

Relatively new to the blogosphere, but kind of an old hat in the art world (and fairly well schooled thus far as well!), Beyond Robson has just discovered the increasingly famous Izzie Egan and featured the gallery manager of the Monte Clark Gallery in this week’s installation of Cityphile!

Check out the full article here.

I’d just like to take the chance to thank Beyond Robson, Degan Beley and Megan Cole for their really kind words that they have written about the C.C.C. and myself recently.

Im so pleased people are reading, learning and participating in the art market. I cant wait for the future… it just cant happen fast enough for me!

Thank you for all your support. It really is so appreciated. Keep reading and Commenting!

It’s so hard out there. Getting started as an artists. Finding representation, finding a gallery, finding a gallery with a director you like, finding a gallery with a director you like, that’s going to put him or herself out there for you! There’s so much to think about!

I mentioned in my last post that the best way to find representation is through networking. That I still maintain. However, since my time in Vancouver, where the market is more intimate and smaller than in cities such as London and New York I’ve come to realise that it’s not just networking. Ive had the chance to get my hands dirty at many levels and meet so many of Vancouver’s young and emerging artists. And I’ve got to say I think that Vancouver’s got it right….when your getting started D.I.Y (Do it yourself)

I recently went to an artists show on Granville island. (I’m going to keep the artists nameless.) In this case the artists decided to exhibit her works on the walls of a well chosen retail (to want for a better word) store. It was a high end store where customers are going to spend money. So it was a good choice and it hit me…… There are a number of different ways to get started whilst you look and work towards finding your perfect gallery to represent you.

1) Hold your own exhibit in a prominent place. There are a number of cafes, stores, restaurants, theaters, and venues that are open to artist exhibitions such as The Main on Main St,

2) Sell your works on web gallery sites like art exchange and the Mini Gallery.

3) Join an artists collective such as the V.A.C. (For more information about the Vancouver Artists Collective you can contact Sarah Martin.)

4 ) Get involved with events and shows such as “Cheaper than a one night stand.” – A fantastic event. Last year over 80 artists exhibited works all for sale for under $300.00 CA.

There are so many other things you can do, but that should keep you occupied for a little while!

Last week saw the arrival of a new art fair to the cosmopolitan and global worlds of international art fairs. The DIFC Gulf Art Fair. According to the The Art Newspaper Gulf Art Focus, the cash rich governments of the Gulf states are spending their wealth on a range of cultural projects as never before in an effort to boost tourism.

As a result, the art market in the Gulf is developing at an unusual rapid rate, led by the auction houses. Subsequently the interest in the DIFC Gulf Art Fair was intense, both from market participators and market spectators. The fair attracted a number of Alpha galleries including London’s White Cube and Flowers Eastand New Yorks Max Lang Gallery.

Reports from those that went were positive. The fair was busy with a number of attractive booths and artists. Given the ease of travelling to Dubai and its tax free status, art market players are predicting that the fair will grow rapidly for the coming years. Its going to be interesting to watch what happens over there in the next few years.
There is an insightful review on artinfo.com which gives you a glimps into the middle easts aswer to Frieze.
Personally I’m looking forward to watching this market grow. There’s so much potential, as well as extra curricular activities such as shopping, sailing, polo and more shopping!

MONTE CLARK GALLERY

PRESS RELEASE


Scott McFarland, The Admirals House as Seen from the Upper Garden at Fenton House, 2006.
The MONTE CLARK GALLERY is pleased to announce a solo exhibition by Scott McFarland.

Works on Paper
Scott McFarland
March 17th – April 19th, 2007

Opening reception: Saturday 17th March 5:00 –-7:00 pm. Artist in attendance.

Scott McFarland’s latest exhibition Works on Paper brings together 7 new inkjet photographs from three different bodies of work for the first time.  This selection taken from the series; Hampstead, Empire, and Berlin culminate from the artist’s travels to the Huntington Gardens of Pasadena, California, various sites in and around Berlin, Germany as well as Hampstead Heath, London.

Printed in the artist’s own studio the colour images of Works on Paper depict subjects of varying degrees of separation and connection.  A winter scene of the porcupine display at the Berlin Zoo is shown along side a desert garden plant collection providing for a subtle tactile relationship between plants and animal. Similarly in Ruinburg, the faux ruins of an 18th century European palace landscape feature find comparison with some decaying cacti discovered at the derelict periphery of the Huntington estate.

McFarland’s hybrid-like images reconsider the traditional conception of a photograph as the depiction of a single moment. Produced by combining multiple negatives with the assistance of digital technology, his photographs represent variations in the landscape as a series of moments in time compressed down to a single picture of that scene. The Admirals House and Ruinburg take this one step further by altering the image for each edition of the photograph making such images different or “unique” works.

In 2007 Scott McFarland will be participating in exhibitions for both the Montreal Biennale and Contact Photo in Toronto as well the New Photography 2007 exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art, New York in September. His photographs are included in a number of international collections such as the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto and the Albright – Knox museum in Buffalo, and have recently been published in the 2006 edition of Phaidon’s Vitamin PH.

I hope you al enjoy the new show!.

Let’s face it: reading a blog has now become a bit of an archaic activity. With our online news sources, blog feeds and Google searches, there’s no time to really read and absorb all we would like to online, just as it goes when you have, or had, 30 minutes in a morning to read the 5 sections of the morning newspaper. It’s all about the scan.

But this blog, you should read. Spend some time with it. It is written by the gallery manager of the Monte Clark Gallery, Izzie Egan. I met Izzie last year, and she has since become one of my dear friends. So, as bias as this post may seem, I truly mean it – I love her blog. And it’s only 2 months old! Izzie comes from an art background, having acquired her Masters Graduate from the infamous and prestigious Sotheby’s in London. In a nutshell, she has a lot to offer and recognizes how the internet is changing the traditional art world. The blog is jam-packed with art knowledge, inspiration and recommendations, with a little travel advice to boot: a treat.

Izzie is also the founder of the Contemporary Collectors Club. Currently, participation is by invite only, but you can read all about it here, and discover how you can get involved.

From a somewhat rookie blogger to another – bravo to a unique and fabulous newbie to the blogosphere!

 Globe and Mail article. (March 3rd 2007) 

The Globe and Mail published a wonderful review from New York on Vancouver’s most celebrated artists Jeff Wall.

Written by Sarah Milroy and published in this weekends edition, the article is a wonderfully written piece encompassing Wall’s success and achievements. Focusing on the recently mentioned opening at the MoMA in New York, Milroy gives the reader an interesting insight into the vibe and feel of the event!

 To read the article click here.

There are literally hundreds of books out there advising new collectors how and when to buy art. What to buy and how to get started.

However buying your first piece can be intimidating and a little scary. What if your not buying a “good investment.” Shoultdn’t you be spending the money on other things… Like living? But for some buying art is living!

So if it’s going to be scary and intimidating, then why dont we at least make it fun!

Saturday night here in Vancouver saw the Access artists run centre hold their annual auction to raise funds to support the programming and operational activities of Access.

Charity auctions are a fun and exciting place to purchase art. In the case of the Access Auction, Back to Front, the surrounding was intimate and well put together with 5 works from local artists; Karin Bubas, Judy Chartrand, Elizabeth McIntosh, Ron Terada and Hadley and Maxwell. With the artist and many of their contemporaries there to support the evening, there was a happy and vibrant feel to the event. Also attending the evening were a number of Vancouver’s new Art Collectors and Professionals. 

            Monica Reyes of BackGallery Projects, and Citizen Journalist, Web Guru and Art Collector Megan Cole.

 One lucky winner!  

All works fell under the hammer under the $500 CA mark. Making the evening a fantastic opportunity for new collectors to purchase works by well represented, yet young artists. It was certainly ladies night, with women interestingly dominating the bidding.

The organisers had also organised a raffle with some wonderful cultural prizes including books, tickets to the opera and the theater.

So for the new collector out there keep your eye out for invitations to these charity events. Not only does it offer you a chance to support your local community,  it also offers you the opportunity to acquire great art. Remember to do your research though. Find out as much as you can about the artists first and who represents them, but most importantly bid for what you like.

Finally remember to enjoy it!

(Lucky bidder # 27 went home with a wonderful work by Kain Bubas.)

Click here to see more images from the evening auction. 

As a gallery manager, sometimes it feels like everyday I have young artists and young ambitious galleriests asking me “How do I get a job in a gallery?” “How do I find a gallery to represent me?”

And I find it hard to answer because not so long ago that was me. I was searching high and low for the right position, in the right town, in the right gallery. I have friends who are artists and are constantly asking me how they should go about finding representation. Finally it dawned on me. It’s really all just a game.

In the art market, it is as much about who you know, not just what you know. For young artists looking for representation- Get out there. Mingle with your contemporaries, go to openings and night classes and viewings. Join your local Museum members club. Just make sure you are meeting people all the time. As a gallery manager we are much more likely to look at an artists work if he or she comes recommended by someone already in our stable.

For the young ambitious galleriest- the best thing I ever did was my Masters at Sothebys. Not necessarily for the qualification, but for the interesting people I met and the clout of having a multi national company behind you. If you can afford to intern do it. Intern every where you can, where ever you can. Eventually you will meet someone, who knows someone, who is looking for someone and thus, that is how you begin.

And finally remember- you have to start somewhere. I made tea for a year and answered the telephone. I still make tea and answer the telephone, but now I can do a bit more. Its not all as glamorous as you are lead to believe, but the rewards of working with talented and unique artists far surpass anything I could ever of dreamed of. Who knows in 10 years time maybe I’ll stop making tea! (but I hope I never loose that!) Until then I am happy to know that I am playing my part in hopefully building a history for tomorrow with new and exciting artists. Even Mary Boone started somewhere.

There are a number of places to look for art jobs.

Internationally look at:

www.theartnewspaper.com

In London check out:

www.drummondread.com

In New York check out:

www.artstaffing.com

You can also consult the ADAA (Art Dealers Association of America.)

In Canada check out:

www.adac.ca

www.allianceforarts.com

It is also always worth checking the websites of the main museums and galleries in your area for internship possibilities.

The auction houses are also a good, but competetive place to start, with limited openings.
Have a look at Sotheby’s, Christies, Bonhams and Phillips for temporary internships. A lot of opportunities are only posted in house, so unless your already in it you probably wont find out about it!

I feel that this will be an on going article and question running through my blog, and I hope that I can add to it at a later date or as more information comes to light.

http://www.thearmoryshow.com

February 23rd marks the opening at Pier 94, of the 2007 of the Armory show in New York.

For those of you in town it is definitely worth a visit. Remember if your going to bring out the killer heels, to bring a spare pair of shoes to soothe your aching feet in your bag, as its a fair walk from the nearest underground and you cant get a cab for love nor money. (If your feet dont ache you havent done the fair justice!)

(Pier 94 is located on Manhattan’s far West side on the Hudson River (Twelfth Avenue) at 55th Street in the Passenger Ship Terminal complex. The pier is easily accessible by public transportation, taxi, and private vehicle. The nearest subway stop is four cross-town blocks east at 50th Street and Eighth Avenue )

 (Picture Courtesy of the ADAA)

Recommended Hotel:

There a re a wealth of hotels to fit your budget and your tastes, however personally i would recommend the New York Mandarin Oriental

The Mandarin is a sponsor of the Armory show and has a shuttle bus that runs between the hotel and the fair, (Thus enabling the dedicated art connoisseur to wear their favorite killer heels and choice clothes.)

Recommended Place to eat:

This is a great place- can be a little touristy but the mood is good and the atmosphere is relaxed and fun. Temple Bar332 Lafayette St. Bleecker St. 212-925-4242.

Pipeline 2 World Financial Ctr. 225 Liberty St. South End Ave. 212-945-2755.  I know its freezing out, but this place has incredible views of the Hudson and can provide a great place to drink, eat and be merry. (Only one problem, its basically an outside place! so wrap up visitors wrap up!

Pipeline was also mentioned recently as a bar that was safe for female dinners. As someone travelling alone this is a nice location in the world financial centre restaurant area. 

New York is about to go art crazy for the next six weeks. What with the big NY sales, massive blockbuster shows, Asian Art week and the Armory Art Fair all jostling for press in one city, the sky is the limit to what we can expect.

Jeff Wall February 25–May 14, 2007 The Joan and Preston Robert Tisch Gallery, sixth floor

Starting with possibly my favorite event, the opening of the Jeff Wall Retrospective show at the MoMA.

Opening Evening Feb 21st 2007.

The retrospective will run from Feb 25th – May 14th and promises to be one of the most exciting and influential shows for 2007.

Jeff Wall’s retrospective takes a detailed look at the development of his photogenic strategies and themes for the last quarter of a century, starting with works from the late 1970’s following through to his more recent studies. In total MoMA will exhibit over 40 works including a number of his infamous light boxes.

It promises to be a show not to miss.

More to come on New York 2007.

The Monte Clark Gallery Vancouver will be opening its doors next week with a new exhibition that will definately be worth checking out!

Strange Identity, Feb 8^th 2007 6:30 -8pm
Karin Bubaš, Anthony Goicolea, Helen Levitt, Annie Pootoogook and Derek Root.

Feb 8th – March 15^th 2007

Strange Identity is a group exhibition showing the collaboration of a number of the gallery artists to create a strong body of works portraying the modern day reflection on the individual and the concept of identity, from portraiture to the Study of Figures. Strange Identity requires the viewer to participate with the individual works whilst questioning the essence of the work itself.

The Monte Clark Gallery artists and the Strange Identity exhibition aims to enlighten the viewer to the numerous comments on portraiture and studies in figures from a number of artists prospective, and from a number of mediums.

Annie Pootoogook, winner of the 2006 Sobey Awards presents a naive study on paper, of the family union, echoing the diverse facets of life in the Artic in the 21^st Century, whist sharing the intimate moments of her life and the lives around her. Pootoogook simplifies the hardships of life in general, making her works easily computable to those of us who have not experienced life in the artic.

The Monte Clark Gallery will also be exhibiting Vintage work by Helen Levitt from Levitts body of work focusing on the Chalk Graffiti, photographed from 1933- 37 decorating the streets and homes of New York. One particular wall caught Levitts attention. The photograph depicts a chalk self portrait of the epitome of 1930’s glamour portrait, possibly an innocent attempt of advertising, scribbled on a harsh brick wall. Although undoubtedly the portrait itself no longer exists, the person and his or her works has been immortalized by Levitts eye and camera,

Continuing with the medium of photography, Karin Bubaš has dominated the west coast press over the last year with her emotive and exciting Studies in Landscape and Portrait. The Hitchkockian suspense she infuses into the works allows the viewer to take on a voyeuristic move toward to her work, whilst also allowing the one to stare unselfconsciously at the works for an inordinately long period.

Bubaš will be exhibiting her latest work from the collection of Studies in Landscape and Wardrobe. This new image follows her successful show of 2006, demonstrating Bubaš’s dedication to the body of work and her cinematic ability to create intense and thoroughly composed images. The image itself is in stark contrast to the previous body through use of almost monochromatic toning. A lone figure stands solitarily in a winter wonderland landscape, thoughtful and pensive whilst dominated by the vast and some what intimidating mountain range in the background, that has for so many in Vancouver come to echo the image of home and Canada.

Anthony Goicolea returns to Vancouver from New York for a second time. His new body of works, The Septemberist (previously shown in the Monte Clark Gallery Toronto) evokes a disturbing yet thoughtful reaction to his intense depictions of otherwise ordinary religious ceremonies. The Septemberist photographs are derived from a thirty minute black and white film which chronicles the preparations and processes associated with traditional religious ceremonies. A group of boys harvests materials in a dream-like landscape in order to construct the clothing and elements necessary to enact a series of semi-sacrificial rites of passage. Set on a farm reminiscent of an old southern plantation, the characters appear almost like a refined tribe or community living an existence removed from society; half military academy, half monastery. It is an intense commentary on the self as well as a profound reflection on societies needs for ceremony and tradition.

Finally the Monte Clark Gallery unites the more traditional medium for portraiture, oil on canvas with the group exhibition. However, Derek Roots representations of Rudolf Schwarzkogler are anything but traditional. Rudolf Schwarzkogler, a man whose life is masked by mystery and obscurity, fueled by rumors of his death by self mutilation, creates a powerful discourse and comment on the self. Roots incredible talent at creating life and vitality in his subjects is heightened by the cloak that shrouds Schwarzkogler, whilst the physical bandages removes the essence of identity from the identifiable, as Schwarzkolger himself intended. The identity in all is indeed strange.