A social network for artists, and their friends, in the Durham Region in Ontario
How to get people to participate????
Hello everyone that will read this.
I am the owner of a Custom Framing Shop called the Framing DAmes and Gallery in the Village of Highland Creek in Scarborough, not very far from, Ajax, Pickering. I have an honors degree in Fine Art with a specialty in Lithography, and have worked as an apprentice on major Canadian Artists lithographs. I have worked very hard on the Gallery space in my store in promoting local artists for the past year now, we have an Open House the First Friday of every month from 5:30 to 8pm, along with other events. We also have a Television show on the horizon about art and picture framing which we hope to be shooting the pilot very soon.
I say all this not to promote myself at all, but to simply ask the question What am I doing wrong??, With everything I know and do I seem to be missing the mark. We have a very low attendence at our Open Houses, I would like to increase that attendence. Take the Durham Artist Social Network for example, although I have let everyone know about our events, nobody comes from your Network. I would really like to meet the faces behind all this great artwork, please don't be intimidated by the few miles between Ajax and Scarborough, we are East Scarborough, the very East you can get. Tonight is Our First Friday of the Month Open House, I hope to see people there it would be nice to have the support. Thank you for your time in reading this lvery long message.
Catherine
I am the owner of a Custom Framing Shop called the Framing DAmes and Gallery in the Village of Highland Creek in Scarborough, not very far from, Ajax, Pickering. I have an honors degree in Fine Art with a specialty in Lithography, and have worked as an apprentice on major Canadian Artists lithographs. I have worked very hard on the Gallery space in my store in promoting local artists for the past year now, we have an Open House the First Friday of every month from 5:30 to 8pm, along with other events. We also have a Television show on the horizon about art and picture framing which we hope to be shooting the pilot very soon.
I say all this not to promote myself at all, but to simply ask the question What am I doing wrong??, With everything I know and do I seem to be missing the mark. We have a very low attendence at our Open Houses, I would like to increase that attendence. Take the Durham Artist Social Network for example, although I have let everyone know about our events, nobody comes from your Network. I would really like to meet the faces behind all this great artwork, please don't be intimidated by the few miles between Ajax and Scarborough, we are East Scarborough, the very East you can get. Tonight is Our First Friday of the Month Open House, I hope to see people there it would be nice to have the support. Thank you for your time in reading this lvery long message.
Catherine
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Allan OMarra on -
Hi Catherine:
I hear your frustration. I don't think it's a matter of "doing wrong" (which is a negative way of framing it) but doing something that will attract people. Speaking generally, we are all busy people with many priorities in our lives. And then speaking personally (and maybe for others on this site), I am not in the market to buy art (as a prolific artist myself, I have NO extra room in my house for the art of others, nor the money to buy art even if I found something I liked); and I wouldn't use your framing service as I paint oil on gallery-wrap canvases and do my own framing. To make the effort to attend one of your open houses, I would have to be attracted by some "event" taking place there: i.e.: the introduction of a new artist, a demo by an artist, etc., etc. I wouldn't simply be attracted to a business "open house" that happens on a monthly basis.
I feel your frustration, though, as I have been painting for nearly 40 years and have still not been able to make a full livelihood out of it, in spite of having had 23 solo shows and participated in innmumerable group shows throughout my career. I've advertised, donated to auctions, submitted to juries -- all the things artists do to raise profile. I've sold OK over the years, until recently, and have realized I've hit a wall with the client base I've established (satuated my own personal market, if you will) and am casting about as to how to proceed (presently have some work on consignment with Anthony's Gallery in Whitby and have booked a booth at the Cobourg Art Festival).
Anyway, I don't know if this response helps. All I can say is good luck, and keep stroking.
Allan
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Permalink Reply by Catherine Hawthorn on
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Hi Allan,
I think you might have misinterpreted, I have a gallery and the first friday of every month we feature an artist an "event" we serve food and have music and really it has turned into an artist gab session. It is really quite wonderfull. I guess I was just looking for people who wanted to celebrate art.
Thanks
Catherine
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Permalink Reply by Allan OMarra on
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Hi Catherine:
A description of what entails at your event wasn't in your original posting and I didn't recall prior info on the event. MY apologies. Music, food and artgab sound fabulous! Unfortunately, I've promised to take my boy to see Ironman tonight or I would attend. Maybe provide us with a regular notification, with artist and music identified? And I'll aim to get out to the next one.
Allan
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Permalink Reply by Grant Thomas on -
Had a fun time this afternoon... thank you.
It was great meeting you and the others.
I'll be in touch for a price on framing and for your upcoming juried show.
Thanks again.
Grant
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Permalink Reply by Robert J Bourke on
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Hi Catherine.
I will make an effort to visit your gallery to see what you have to offer. I sense you have an enthusialsm for art and have taken some inititatives to promote your gallery. Your Open House event sounds like a good idea/event and although you are anxious to improve what I perceive as a dissappointment with increasing attendance, I believe you are going in a good direction. I encourage you to keep up this intitiatve and try to expand your contacts in the artistic community. You might consider expanding your contacts through framing denmonstrations etc amongst local art groups as a means of increasing your contacts. You might also consider other strategies that would increase your likelihood of expanding contacts with more recognizeable artists. Getting your name connected with more recognizeable artists will help get your name associated with quality and your reputation will grow. I believe you have embarked on a journey that will happen one step at a time and as you expand your exposure and become known by greater more people and get affiliated with more known artists. It will take time but your and enthusiasm and dedication can succeed if you keep up the effort. Bob
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