How to Prepare for Your Show
Close your eyes and imagine your show. Live the moment. It is like a party. Envision how your art is displayed, how people move around to see your art, what they are eating and drinking, the background music… Visualize every detail. Now, lets prepare to show our work.
I prefer to take care of most aspects of my shows myself instead of putting it in the hands of other people. I do surround myself with people I trust to help me shape the scene and to alleviate my burden. Seek their advice, listen to their opinion, but most importantly understand their support. Make sure is people who can take care of things without prompting. Otherwise you will add unnecessary stress to yourself.
I want to share with you my experience and my process to present an art exhibit. I believe that “TORSOS” opening reception Saturday, November 22 is going to be by far, my largest yet. I am not an expert in how to organize an art exhibit but I’ve been learning and I hope to get better at it. I will appreciate your input and experience. On Saturday, I would love to shake your hand and probably give you a hug (I’m a hugger and not sorry for that). You can find the info about the show HERE.
How to prepare for your show? While there are many intricacies in presenting an art exhibit this checklist might help you get started. Before you decide you want to have an art exhibit you need to be ready with a few things.
- Short biography
- Artist Statement
- Description of the show
- 10-20 pieces to show.
Word of Advise: Make sure the amount of pieces fits the venue. You don’t want your show to look like a flea market.
- Venue, Date and Time of the show.
I try to have this at least 3 months in advance. That time allows for you to prepare and promote properly.
- Check the place and visualize your work there, the show, make the initial vision come to life.
- Write a press release.
There are plenty of examples and templates online in how to write a press release. If you have someone to do it for you is fine. Some people charge to write press releases. I prefer to write it myself then ask other people to edit whatever necessary.
- Design printed material: invitations, posters, postcards, etc.
Again, if you can’t do it yourself someone else can do it. I design my own printed material. It makes me feel closer to the show.
- Promote! Promote! Promote! My mom would say: “Invite even the cat.”
Use your printed material, mailing lists, online media, social media, word of mouth, tell your friends to bring friends… anything that can being people to your show.
- Decide on food and drinks
Keep it simple to the extent possible unless someone else wants to pay for it. You can also ask for sponsors or wine tastings to be present. The possibilities are endless and it all depends on your budget and preferences.
- Set up ahead of time
Heads up! There will be a lot of stress on getting ready. Go over your plan and check every detail. Pretend you are a guest and go through all of it. Be flexible to changes that won’t change the overall look and feel of the show. There are things not deserving the stress.
Be ready to enjoy the people celebrating you and your work, make new connections, be ready to answer any questions that could be presented, and have fun. It is your party!
Let Art Speak
Back in November 2014 I wrote How to Explain Your Art and it became very popular not only in the blog but also in Ezine Articles and Fine Art America. In several discussions in LinkedIn I believe the article was misunderstood by some. The article was never intended to explain a specific piece of art but our general intent in creating art. Each individual piece should speak by itself. At least that is what I aim for as I explain in my artist statement:
“I am inspired by the fluidity, dynamism, and power of the human body.
I experiment with techniques and media that allow me to portray the figure in its balance between vivacity, emotion, strength, and sensibility.
I aim to provide each piece with its own soul, a life, and a story to tell on its own.”
A few years ago I painted a face of a lady with a crown of flowers and a very colorful background. The day I posted the picture on Facebook I received two comments from two different ladies. One of them expressed how happy the painting made her feel. On the other hand, the second lady expressed how sad the painting made her feel and how she cried when she saw it. The same painting was speaking in two different ways to two different individuals. The painting had no meaning in itself, or better said, no intended meaning. However, these two ladies found meaning by themselves.
In my current exhibit closing January 24 the torsos speak differently to different individuals even though there are no faces. The body itself communicates to the viewer without explanations. Each piece can tell a story to the viewer and even more important, each viewer can create their own story. If I explain each piece I am stealing from the viewer to find meaning on their own. I would be also limiting the story to one instead of leaving it open to interpretations and an unlimited amount of stories as the viewers can find.
I would preferably let art speak. Maybe it wants to tell you something if you just listen. Stop and observe. What domes to mind? What is it trying to tell you? How are you letting art speak to you? Words are not always necessary. You can feel it too without trying to articulate it. Just feel.
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