Art Show at Bookmarx

Posted on March 8, 2017 by lksukany

In December 2016, I went into Bookmarx – this little locally owned bookstore on Walnut Street – with a friend. I noticed they had a gallery space in the back that was surprisingly large. I started talking with the owner Aubrey. She told me to send her an email with some samples of my work. I did send her some samples and she liked them. She said an artist had backed out for March, and I said that would be great to show then.

I went by about a month before set up and measured the space. I like to know which pieces will fit in the space in advance. I drew up a diagram of the space and was able to fit almost the entire show in it.

I took the unframed pieces to Gallery Gal. I really wanted the frames to match and knew they could get the job done! Matthew was able to match the exact wood (soft maple).

In the meantime, I sent Aubrey info (including a picture of the exhibition postcard, artist bio and the artist statement) for the Springfield Regional Arts Council promotional information for the First Friday Art Walk.

As is always the case, time flew by and it was already time to go set up the show. M offered to take the paintings to Bookmarx for me and as he’s been pretty active at Royal Barbell these days, he had no problem loading and unloading all 13 pieces for me. Then after calling Gallery Gal for some help with hanging the artwork I put my show-hanging bag together and my work boots on and headed out.

This is my process of how I hang an art show:
#1 Once the paintings are in the space I organize them – leaning them against the wall. This way I can get a pretty good idea of how they will look in the space and with each other.

#2 I unload the contents of my show-hanging bag which includes: hammer, picture hangers (50 lbs), blue painters tape, white artist tape, pencil, pencil sharpener, eraser, art labels (in a recycled stationary box), notebook (with secret formula), tape measure, ruler, level, writing pen, and micron ink pens. It’s also practical to bring a step ladder to these kind of things.

#3 I measure the space between the wall edges and the paintings, so that they are all even.

#4 I work out the eye level for each piece by using the secret formula. Because the whole reason I have made this blog was to share with you my artist process, I am going to share the secret formula! Make sure to include the frame for all measurements. Also, if you are getting numbers like “.185” just round up to quarters (.25, .5, .75).

THE SECRET FORMULA FOR HANGING ART
Measure the Length (up and down) and divide it by 2 = x
Measure the Length (up and down) from the highest point of the picture hanger (when pulling up on it) and the top of the painting = y
Subtract x from y and add 56. x-y+56=z (The standard eye level is 56-58, but I’m a bit on the short side, so I favor the 56.)
Place the tape measure on the floor in the center of the painting and pull up all the way to whatever number z was and mark a dot in pencil on the wall. That is where you will put your picture hanger.
Example: 50.5 ÷ 2 = 25.25 (x) – 10.5 (y) + 56 = 70.75 (z)

#5 Hang work and use the level tool (a level is a tool to make sure the painting is not hanging crooked). Place piece of painters tape or artist tape on the back of the art labels and place next to the piece wherever it looks good – usually on the bottom right about an inch or so from the artwork. I also use tape to mount my artist statement, which I have printed on large, shiny foam board.

The art opening was the next day. The art opening is typically when the artist is present at their show. It may be a time for them to meet and maybe make some fans too.

There was a pretty good turnout – a lot of my friends came out. Thanks friends!

Arkansas Arts on Tour Artist

Posted on September 29, 2015 by lksukany

I applied for the Arkansas Arts Council Arts on Tour Roster. I was contacted to interview to be an Arts on Tour artist. I put together a sample packet for the interview as well as a presentation.

Included in the sample packet:
Artist Statement
Artist Biography
Artist Resume/CV
Artist Business Card
Press Release
CD of Artworks
Detail List
Portfolio Contact Sheet (a page with the art images as thumbnails)
Exhibition Postcard (Sample)
Exhibition Agreement (Sample)
Artist Photograph
A list of the local galleries and community spaces to exhibit

The first 5-10 minutes of the interview was an informal demonstration with the rest of the time used to discuss programming ideas and marketing/promotional plans. Based on the presentation and the responses in the interview, the review panel decided whether or not I would be a candidate for the Arkansas Arts Council to sponsor through the Arts on Tour roster beginning July 2015.

I met with the Arkansas Arts Council Review Panel for an artist interview. I put together a PowerPoint presentation of my work. However, the panel interviews were held on the first floor of the same building that my work was already being shown. Instead of using the PowerPoint presentation, we all went upstairs to the Attorney General’s Office and I gave a walking tour presentation of the work.

I was contacted by the Arkansas Arts Council Grant Programs Manager that a consensus vote by the panelists determined that I should be included as one of the Arts on Tour Roster artist for 2015-2016. The Arts on Tour program offers grant money to reimburse galleries part of the payed exhibitions.

Delta des Refuses Event

Posted on September 23, 2015 by lksukany

The Delta des Refuses event at the Laman Library – Argenta branch is a special exhibition showcase for artists who were not accepted into the 57th Delta Exhibition at the Arkansas Arts Center (a vast majority of the works entered were passed over). This show is inspired by the original 1863 Salon des Refusés held in Paris. Featured artists included Manet, Cezanne, Pissarro, and many others who are now widely recognized as masters of their time.

I was one of the artists not accepted into the 57th Delta Exhibition at the Arkansas Arts Center. Typically, I would not feel the bitter rejection – I submit a lot of work to a lot things and get a lot of rejection letters and emails. However, when I found out that George Dombek was serving as the juror, I was disappointed. My grandmother was married to George Dombek’s brother for forty years. I have never met George that I can remember – it wasn’t like close family or anything – he most likely does not even know who I am. I didn’t become an artist because he was an artist or anything like that. But I thought that would be a kind of cool way to meet him (indirectly meet him), through him viewing my work. Alas, it is not our time yet to meet.

I submitted three paintings from my Romania painting series: Romania Hillside, Romania Poppy Field and Hillside, and Fairytale Romania.

When I first received the invitation to the Delta des Refuses exhibition, I didn’t want to participate because I didn’t want my artist peers to know I had submitted and was not accepted. The more I thought about the exhibition however, the more I was encouraged that there was an opportunity to show my “rejected” work. I also was curious to see what other pieces and artists were rejected.

We went to the opening and there were so many people there. We even ran into some friends who were enjoying the art.

The show will run through October 16, 2015 at the Laman Library – Argenta branch.

Cobra Basket, Harry Potter, and Clearance Cookies from Walgreens?

Posted on May 15, 2014 by lksukany

That’s right, another art night – this one for May 2014!
The night started with Ein smelling something delicious!

Ein of course was smelling M’s delicious cooking and baking. What’s on the menu, you may ask? corn chowder soup and home made fresh-out-of-the-oven rolls.

And for dessert, from scratch chocolate chip cookies! My favorite part about these cookies is when you get a bite of a salt piece. It is delicious.

Did I mention that Ein loves chocolate chip cookies (just the bites without the chocolate chips).

As for projects – there was drawing.

There was fibers- yarn and felt.

There was photo editing.

And there was paperwork? Yes! There was paperwork.

There was also writing of stories and playing of clarinet! Also, Micah started a blog!

Some topics of the night: Harry Potter, Enneagram and other personality types, Cobra basket, working with felt, the creative process, Ein loving who she is, cookie display, turning drawings into a coloring book, potential group names (BYOA – bring your own art, Running with Scissors, Art Paper Scissors), and best most recent purchases (a bunny door stop, Moonrise Kingdom, Breyers Chocolate Oreo Ice Cream, A ticket to Seattle, Clearance Cookies – with Belgium chocolate – at Walgreens).

More photos of the night

A special thank you to Niki Zimmerman Images for taking and providing some of the pictures of the night!

Art Night for Projects

Posted on April 24, 2014 by lksukany

The Art Night for April 2014 met and I am thinking this group needs a name – like Crunch and Create, Munch and Make, or Snack and Scheme. The night serves dinner and then space and time to work on a creative project.

M made chicken and vegetable fried rice and then baked chocolate chip cookies.

Mariel was the first arrival and continued her puppet making project for the Man and Bear musical puppet show by the Damsels in Distress.

J brought a Darth Vader coat rack that she wanted to touch up paint.

M.M. brought her beautiful beads and worked on a bracelet.

K and A came together, sat together, and worked on their projects together! K worked on a felt billfold, and A worked on sewing an image for her trading card group.

I worked on printing cards to send to Lucy Luton in England. I was one of the first three to email her for a contest, and she sent me some of her cards – so I wanted to send her some of my cards.