Would you like a venue to show and sell your work in the Main Street neighbourhood? Are you interested in joining a friendly group of artists? Do you work in a 2-D media? Is your work highly marketable and interesting? Then we want you!

Arts Off Main gallery is currently seeking submissions for a new artist/partner. We are a group of nine partner artists responsible for the running of the gallery. Each partner has a designated area in the gallery for showing their work and is free to select and hang whatever they choose.

We take turns staffing the gallery, about 2-3 full days per month each. There is a minimal monthly rent to pay for a convenient Main Street location and a buy-in cost in exchange for 100% of the sale of your work.

We are looking for someone who works well with others and has a collaborative approach. Monthly meetings at the gallery allow us to catch up with each other and make collective decisions on the gallery's operations. We also use email to discuss a lot of topics.

Our aims are to offer reasonably priced, good quality artwork and gifts as well as to participate in the community. We held a group show last year at the Seymour Art Gallery, exhibited at several other local events, raised donations for the Vancouver Food Bank and joined in Main Street merchants association activities.

Application Process

• All submissions will be juried by the existing partnership
• Art work should be interesting and of high quality
• 2D work only is being accepted at this time - drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, collage, mixed media - anything that could be displayed hung on a wall. No jewellery or ceramics please.
• Only submit artwork that you that you feel would be a good fit to sell in the gallery. This is very important as we like to achieve a balance between all artists' work and need to know exactly what you plan to sell. We aim to offer our clients a variety of styles, media and techniques. If you're unsure of what work to submit, please visit us to see what we currently have for sale and the price points.
• Only submissions sent by the online application will be considered
• Please understand that we cannot respond to every submission. Only artists who will be offered a partnership will be contacted.

Interview
Artists whose work is approved by the partnership will be invited to bring in some of their work and meet with the Partnership Committee. This will give the gallery a chance to see the actual work and for the artist to meet some of the members and  ask any questions they may have.

A few facts:

• Arts Off Main is a co-operative gallery of nine artists who show and sell their work through the gallery.
• Each partner brings a unique aspect to the gallery.
• Partners pay an initial fee to join, pay monthly rent and are responsible to staff the gallery 2-3 days a month.
• Partners receive 100% of the sales of their work.

Read more about us. We look forward to reviewing your work!

Deadline for applications:
Friday, February 10, 2012

Annamaria Potamiti has created these individualistic cat portraits full of personality. Wouldn't you like to adopt a pet portrait? Or maybe there's a cat lover on your holiday shopping list?

Arts Off Main is brimming with wonderful, original art this season. See a sampling below of the many pieces in store now. We're open every day through to Dec. 24, 11:30-5:30 and 11-5 on Sundays. We're sure someone you know would love a gift of art. Come and enjoy some Christmas treats while browsing. Hope to see you soon!

Overcast skies didn't keep you away - on a usually quiet Sunday afternoon, 110 people came by Arts Off Main to check out the Culture Days happenings. Sabine Simons drew a real crowd interested in the technical aspects of this ancient art form - using pigments mixed with wax as a painting medium. For those of you who saw Sabine at work that would like to see some finished pieces, she has three new works, about 8x8 inches each, hanging in the gallery. Lovely, Sabine!

Drift artist Penny Lim and Arts Off Main artist Eileen Mosca get Penny's table ready for making art books with the kids. Thanks, Penny, for your energy and ideas and Eileen for the display of artwork on the gallery's outside wall!

Arts Off Main consignee and Drift artist Julie McIntyre led a community paper quilt project at Urban Source. Twelve participants who happened by the store joined in the making of this collective creative endeavour. Afterwards, Julie sewed the individual squares together - thank you, Julie, for your creativity, enthusiasm and dedication! Julie has a great photo of this collective effort on her Facebook page.

Drift artist Varouj Gumuchian also participated in Culture Days at Arts Off Main with a sculptural installation - sorry, no pictures! Thank you, Varouj!

Thank You... for making Culture Days 2011 a success! Canadians throughout the country expressed their creativity by participating in over 5,500 activities in 800 cities and towns over the Culture Days 2011 Event Weekend (September 30, October 1 & 2). Thanks to all who participated! http://www.culturedays.ca/en

Along the Path - Seascape and Abstract Paintings by
Arts Off Main artist Jennifer Harwood
Reception Sunday, September 11, 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm

Havana Gallery
1212 Commercial Drive, Vancouver
Sept 4th - 17th, 2011

June 14 -19
Opening reception: Tuesday, June 14th, 7-9 PM
Artists in attendance

You are invited to the Opening Reception of "Recharge", an exhibition of the work of Arts Off Main members. We have come together to recharge our art practice. Presenting a collaborative showpiece made up of 10x10 inch panels (shown at left) one by each member. As well, each artist will be exhibiting several works representing a variety of media: painting, photography, drawing, illustration, mixed media, polymer clay and pottery.

Matthew Freed, Jennifer Harwood, Nicola Morgan, Eileen Mosca, Riitta Peirone, Annamaria Potamiti, Lee Sanger, Ellen Scobie, Sabine Simons, Joan Tayler


 
SPECIAL EVENTS
Opening Reception
Tuesday June 14, 7-9 pm
Sway to the sounds of guitar and accordion duo Dave Taylor and Tyson Naylor, while you mingle with the artists and learn about their work.

Afternoon Celebration
Sunday June 19, 1-4 pm
Get a charge out of Company B Jazz Band, a six-piece group known for rousing crowds to dance and smile with their cheerful renditions of classic repertoire from the 1920s through 1940s. Chat with the artists as we perform demos and paint on location. Company B will be on stage at Panorama Park, adjacent to the gallery.

SEYMOUR ART FESTIVAL
Arts Off Main is appearing during the Seymour Art Festival, a biennial special event hosted by the Seymour Art Gallery, in the Deep Cove Cultural Centre. June 7 - July 3, 2011.

We've switched up the walls at Arts Off Main -- lots of new art and new cards in stock. Riitta Peirone is working on a new series of paintings called "Passages" seen here. Some pieces are too large for the gallery but see them on-line.