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

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!

Our 8th Anniversary celebration is next weekend, December 2, 3 and 4. Enjoy cookies and hot, apple cider while browsing our wonderful selection of locally crafted jewellery, pottery, sculpture, gift items, art cards and original art.

10% of all sales during our anniversary celebration weekend will be donated to the Vancouver Food Bank.

We'll be busy decorating our storefront this week in preparation for the "Flake Out on Main Street" shop decorating contest. Main Street merchants have taken up the challenge to produce an original storefront display on the theme of "Flake Out on Main Street". You can vote for your favourite display and by voting, your name is entered in a draw for a gift basket of Main Street merchant goodies. Come into Arts Off Main gallery to vote and don't forget to bring a non-perishable food item for the Vancouver Food Bank!

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

Come out and celebrate Culture Days this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at Arts Off Main Gallery. Art demonstrations will be held outside the Gallery, by Drift and Arts Off Main artists, on the boulevard each day (weather permitting). 

SCHEDULE
 
Saturday, October 1
11am – 2pm – Lee Sanger - hand-embellished Giclee prints
2pm – 5pm – Anne Montgomery – sewing/felting http://www.thedrift.ca/artists/anne-montgomery
11am – 5pm – Laura Skuse – abstract expressionism
http://www.lauraskuse.com
 
Sunday, October 2
11am – 1pm – Penny Lim – stamping and simple paper books with children
http://www.thedrift.ca/artists/penny-lim
 
11am – 3pm – Sabine Simons – encaustic painting
11am – 3pm – Eileen Mosca - illustration
11am – 5pm – Laura Skuse – abstract expressionism
http://www.lauraskuse.com
2pm – 5pm – Varouj Gumuchian - Art sculpture installation
http://www.thedrift.ca/artists/varouj-gumuchian
 
Other Artists In Action:

Julie McIntyre will be leading the creation of a community Art Quilt at Urban Source, 3126 Main Street on Sat. Oct. 1, 1-4pm. The quilt will hang in the window of Urban Source until Monday, Oct. 3. Everyone is welcome to participate – kids and adults.  

Roz McLean will be demonstrating her illustration at Beansprouts, 4305 Main Street, Sunday, Oct. 2, 12-4 pm.

Culture Days is a 3 day, annual collaborative pan-Canadian volunteer movement to raise the awareness, accessibility, participation and engagement of all Canadians in the arts and cultural life of their communities. www.culturedays.ca

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

Arts Off Main is currently seeking submissions for a new artist/partner. We are looking for someone who works well with others and has a collaborative approach. Art work should be interesting and of high quality. Potential partners must be available to participate in the week to week responsibilities of the gallery. As well, 2-3 full days per month are required working and managing the gallery. Minimal rent for a convenient Main Street location and a small buy-in cost in exchange for 100% of the sale of your work. Please apply using our Partner Application form.

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!

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.