It is a really special thing when you have an idea and then there is someone who says they can make it happen and then all the players and pieces come together to become something above and beyond what you initially imagined possible.
Over the past four months I have been organizing an Artists Art Exchange Project between 17 Charlottesville based artists. I have been spending time meeting with each of the participants in their studios, in coffee shops and over lunch and have filled their inboxes with countless emails.
Way, way back in warmer days of summer I approached Maureen Brondyke, Executive Director of New City Arts with a crazy idea. Pulling from a previous print exchange Mara participated in in 2008 and all the print exchanges she always did with her print classes as both a student and a teacher we wanted to do something similar here in Charlottesville.
After three and a half years here both Mara and I felt like we still didn't know very many artists around town. And of the ones we knew we felt like we didn't know most of them very well. Perhaps a print (or Art exchange in this case) could start to connect us as artists.
At the end of August, Maureen, Mara and I brainstormed a wishlist of artists, came up with some guidelines and started asking people to participate.
And people said YES. Everyone was willing to create a set of 23 works over the course of the next 3 months to exchange with their fellow peers.
Last night Champion Brewing Company hosted us all for our exchange. We lined up all 23 boxes and everyone divided up their prints. Everyone got a chance catch up with old friends, make a few new ones, enjoy a few beers, and go home with a box full of wonderful gifts made for them by fellow artists. It was really wonderful.
Luckily for you if you weren't one of the 17 artist participants there are two chances to see all the work and even get your hands on some art of your own.
One entire set has been kindly donated to The Haven for their annual Art Auction. Each piece will be available separately as part of the silent auction that evening. This year's event will take place on Friday, December 5th at Old Metropolitan Hall. For more information about the Art Auction or to purchase your tickets online you can click here.
A second set will be at the WFVT and Radio IQ Studio Gallery with an opening reception on Friday January 9th. These works will also be for sale individually with proceeds benefitting the individual artists and New City Arts.
Leading up to the show opening January 9th, I will also be posting interviews with each of the artists right here to the blog to stay tuned for that!
The photoset are quick iPhone photos from last night's event. You can search #newcityartexchange on Instagram to also see more photos posted by the participants of their work.
I wanted to make sure I thanked Champion Brewing Company again for providing a perfect venue and beers for us all las night and also to Maureen and New City Arts for really making this all possible. I hope this is the first of many Art Exchanges in Charlottesville.
This isn't the last you will be hearing from me about this project.
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