Thursday, December 5, 2013 6 – 9 p.m.
Wall to Wall / Off the Wall
Gallery 44
401 Richmond Street West, #120
Robyn York, Head of Communications and Development, said that this is their annual membership winter print sale. 340 members can show one or two photographs with reproductions limited to only five. This is the second of their two sales per year, the other being in the Spring, called Photopia.
Prices for the work range from $50-$500 and at least 50 pieces usually sell on the opening night of the show.
Jim Hurtubise, Coca-Cola (left) and one of the first print sold, Laurence Siegel, Vines 2 (right)
Guest Renata Mohamed was shopping for herself with a budget of maximum $500. She likes to collect local Canadian photographer’s work, to support local artists.
Gallery member photographer Mary Elizabeth Grace showed me her ethereal piece called Lilac Goddess. She uses various techniques excluding Photoshop from her processes and plans to create coffee table books combining her poetry and photographs.
Mary Elizabeth Grace with her work, Lilac Goddess
The reception was very well attended and the works were of excellent artistic quality and variety.
Shayne Gray, White Dress Blowing over Water with Red Umbrella
We’ve Got Proof(s) / Artist Proof Sale
Open Studio
401 Richmond Street West, #104
Associate Director, Sara Kelly, informed me that this is the 29th year of this event. This is their second biggest fundraiser of the year. The prints for sale are all local art made right there is the studio. The artists get 50% of the price and the gallery gets 50%, which goes right into supporting the running of the gallery.
Print Shop at Open Studio
250 works are available for sale starting at $50, so are very accessible for new collectors. The gallery features both well known and emerging print makers.
Patron Jonathan Groeneweg, checking the list, planned to spend $200 on art for himself
The system for viewing and purchasing the art is in a friendly, non-threatening atmosphere, with the customer being able to take the art home right away.
Guests purchasing prints
Sale continues in Gallery 44 and in Open Studio to Saturday December 21, 2013. Gallery hours Tues-Sat, 12 – 5 p.m.
Text and photo: Margaret Irving