ART Forum

[Slappy the Wang]

A lady friend is a budding artist in KC...well, budding in the sense that she's produced many abstract expressionistic pieces for her own enjoyment, but the pieces are unique and she'd like to
go public."  Any ideas or suggestions as to how she can get noticed in KC art circles?

[velvetelvis]

I'm an artist, It's tough to get solo shows. She needs to get a website, show as much as possible, develop an artist statement and philosophy. Donate art to fundraisers, participate in juried exhibitions.

Check out this website www.kansascityartistscoalition.org for call for artists/opportunities.

Art in KC is very very clicky. Even if your art is the best in the world galleries go for what sells...also most galleries ask for 30-50% commission.

Dose she have any formal training/education?

The most important rule is "follow your heart, it never lies"

[KCLofts]

Couple thoughts:

Put together a portfolio and start banging on gallery doors.  Try to line up an exhibition.

Join the KC Artist's Coalition.  Network.

Set up a website and/or Myspace.  Promote, promote, promote.

Having been with a "professional" artist for quite some time, it's a very tough business.  Sometimes more about PR than talent.  Very hard to break in to the inner circle.

[KCLofts]

I'm an artist ( www.RJB-ARTS.com ), It's tough to get solo shows. She needs to get a website, show as much as possible, develop an artist statement and philosophy. Donate art to fundraisers, participate in juried exhibitions.

Check out this website www.kansascityartistscoalition.org for call for artists/opportunities.

Art in KC is very very clicky. Even if your art is the best in the world galleries go for what sells...also most galleries ask for 30-50% commission.

Dose she have any formal training/education?

The most important rule is "follow your heart, it never lies"

You beat me to it.  I type too slow!

[dangerboy]

Sounds like any other line of work... Who you know is as important as whatever skills or talent you possess. 

[Slappy the Wang]

Great.  I'll tell her about the menage a trois.

[loftguy]

OK, this is a well kept secret, so don't tell anyone.  Boveri Real Estate doubles as an art gallery on First Fridays.  The space is cool, shows all art media well and the events are amazingly well attended.  Maybe best of all, they don't charge commissions.  What's up with that?

Your friend should try contacting Christina Boveri at 816.333.4545.  Apparently she is the filter for what gets booked for the space.

[kcmetro]

Very hard to break in to the inner circle.

Even if you're a kick-ass artist?

[bahua]

Even if you're a kick-ass artist?

I'm guessing this has little to do with recognition and success.

[cdschofield]

I would agree that getting a show in the full time galleries, so to speak, is tough but KC has soooo many more opportunities for artists of all levels compared to other cities. The Boveri suggestion is just one of many for a new artist. Just about any business in the Crossroads will show an artists work for a FF and leave it up for a month. It all comes down to asking around, most are more than happy to put an artists work up if they like it and view it as a gesture of goodwill not a money making proposition.

[Beermo]

A lady friend is a budding artist in KC...well, budding in the sense that she's produced many abstract expressionistic pieces for her own enjoyment, but the pieces are unique and she'd like to
go public."  Any ideas or suggestions as to how she can get noticed in KC art circles?

you can contact christine boveri at 816.333.4545 or got to http://www.boverirealty.com she is very nice and a hottie to boot.

you could also get a hold of stretch. he does 2 things. he lets folks hang their art in grinders to sell and he  owns zone gallery that he lets folks hold exhibitions in.

i'll probably see him today. i'll ask him about it and the criteria he looks for when doing this stuff.