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 gallery is participating with other Main Street merchants this year for the "flakiest" window display! Come out to Main Street to enjoy the displays and vote for your favourite one. You'll find a list of participating businesses below. Just look for the blue and white Flake Out balloons at each store. 

With every vote, your name is entered in a draw to win an incredible prize basket that includes gift certificates and prizes from each of the participating businesses. 

Arts Off Main Gallery, and many other Main Street shops, will also be collecting food for the Vancouver Food Bank. Please take the time to support us in helping those in need and bring in a non-perishable food item. Last weekend alone we filled two boxes with food!

The event runs from December 3rd to December 18th, with the final draw being
held at On The Fringe Hair Design (4166 Main St.) on December
18th at 4pm.


Get your ballot at any of the participating businesses:
Arts off Main  216 East 28th Avenue
Avalon Dance
Shop  4532 Main Street
Barefoot Contessa  3715 Main Street
Beansprouts  4305 Main Street
Body Politic 208 East 12th Avenue
Bohemia
Gallery/The Loft 3243 Main Street
Bottoms Up Clothing Co. 3603 Main Street
District Main 4453 Main Street
Echo Unique Resale 3553 Main Street
Flaming Angels Boutique   4307 Main Street
Forsya Boutique and Gallery 2206 Main Street
Genesis Nutrition 2570 Main Street
HAZEL&CO.  4280 Main Street
Kiddo 3950 Main Street
La Salita Gift-Shop  4196 Main Street
Little Mountain Neighbourhood House 3981 Main Street
Locus Restaurant 4121 Main Street
Lüt
Boutique  4219 Main Street
MarketPlace IGA # 10 2949 Main Street
Much and Little 2541 Main Street
Neptoon Records & CDs 3561 Main Street
On The Fringe Hair Design  4166 Main Street
Physio Room  3418 Main Street
Plush  4296 Main Street
Prettier in Green 3633 Main Street
Quejos Cheesebuns Inc 4129 Main Street
Rocky Mountain Flatbread 4186 Main Street
Sonja Picard  4360 Main Street
Spirithouse 4326 Main Street
Splitz Grill 4242 Main Street
The Archetype  2549 Main Street
the Hach  197 East 17th Avenue
The Whip Restaurant Gallery  209 East 6th Avenue
Two of Hearts Boutique  3728 Main Street
Windsor Packing Co.  4110 Main Street
Woo
Vintage 4366 Main Street

Voting Stations
Arts Off Main 216 East 28th Avenue
MarketPlace IGA # 10 2949 Main Street
Bohemia Gallery/The Loft 3243 Main Street
Neptoon Records 3561 Main Street
Flaming Angels  4307 Main Street
Plush 4296 Main Street
On the Fringe Hair Design 4166 Main Street

In our next post watch for some photos of our display and see why we're the flakiest shop on Main Street!

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!

Get crawling! Canada's largest open studio event is being held this weekend and you're invited to explore artists studios, meet the artist and get inspired! Arts Off Main artists Ellen Scobie and Joan Tayler have their studios open to the public.

Map to Ellen's studio
Map to Joan's studio

Everyone welcome!

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