Sunday, September 27, 2009

Exhibition Preparation

When preparing for a solo exhibition, there is the initial determination to complete a number of pieces to fill the given space. When one gets nearer to the opening date a whole lot of other needs come to light.

Everything has to be priced, titled (and in some cases re-titled), and a statement written about each piece. There is an exhibition title to decide, as well as the artists' statement, update of CV and a mailing list for invites to the opening. If working with a professional gallery, they will prepare the invites, dispatch to their mailing list (and your mailing list which needs to be supplied to them). The opening function will be organised by the gallery too. Then there is artist floor talks to organise and deliver, and possibly a teaching commitment or two to promote the type of work you do. Who says that any of this is easy! Not so, I am still not sure what the title of my exhibition is although I have published at least two versions so far. It will be confirmed only when I see it printed on the invites!

To make life a bit easier further down the track, when I complete each piece of work, I add data about it into my Provenance computer file. By doing this I have a full record of information about each piece and its possible life's journey. This avoids scurrying around trying to remember, re-measure and checking details etc. I have a standard form which I use for each piece, with headings as follows:

Title of Work:
Date Completed:
Size: Both cm and inches
Sale Price:
Artist's Notes: Description and thoughts about the piece
Provenance: Which exhibitions, galleries it may have been involved with,
and purchaser's details, if sold
Location: Either my own collection or perhaps elsewhere
Materials:
Techniques:
Mounting: How the piece is mounted or displayed
Images Available: Both JPEG's and TIFF's
Photographer: Professional photographer's details

I have now made a start on my 15th, and hopefully final, piece for my exhibition. A couple of soya wax applications on a pre-dyed piece. I have no idea where this is going...

I have used a silk / linen blend fabric. This is the linen side....

... and this is the silk side.

Only another 26 days to go now to my exhibition

2 comments:

  1. I appreciate you sharing information about your exhibit. I've never done anything like that but hope to someday! I wish I lived near enough to see your exhibit, maybe it will travel to the US someday!

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  2. Hi Diana!
    I can almost feel the growing tension in your post, as you try to finalize your exhibit. I thought I was the only one who got that way!!! Thanks for listing all of the details...now I can print them off and save them in case I should ever need them again...and hopefully I will! Your pieces are so lovely and unique, that I know your exhibit will be a huge success!

    xo

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