Thursday, November 13, 2008
longer than expected hiatus
We're already into the middle of November and I've yet to organize another art auction. The problem has been
two fold. First the unsuccessful past auction and second the gloomy depressing state of the global economy. Art at the
best of time is looked upon as an extra. Something at the bottom of the list. At a time when media is constantly
reporting the daily loss of jobs and collapsing markets around the world the idea of selling art is a heavy burden.
I'm
not sure what my next step will be. I think the idea of creating a venue for contemporary artists to sell their work
through auctions is a valid one, but developing the market for art is difficult at the best of times, especially in a city
like Toronto where there are few real lovers and collectors of art. I'm at a stand-still for the moment. Trying
to think up new angles...with little success. Talk to you soon.
12:20 pm est
Monday, July 28, 2008
reformatting ADA
The last auction I held was reformatted into a silent auction over a two day period as opposed to one.
I took this route in order to make the auction more approachable. First of all the bids could be made throughout the
exhibition and secondly it removed the constraint of having to show up at an exact time to participate in the live auction.
Although I still prefer to have a live auction until there is enough of a turnout to generate competitive bidding the auction
format is somewhat restrictive. In the end i want to return to the live bidding format, although this may take time.
My next event will probably take place in late September. The summer appears to have too many events advertised with
big budgets since they are directed towards tourists visiting the city. The heat of the summer and the exposure of a
start-up company have led to my decision. Hope to see you all in September.
1:39 pm est
Friday, June 27, 2008
July 4th & 5th
I've decided to change the format of the upcoming event. Instead of having a specific time for the live auction
the coming event wil have two days of viewing during which time there will be a silent auction where anyone can submit a bid
on the sheets supplied for each item on display. This hopefully won't force participants to attend at a specific
time as well the format will allow for less intimidation to interested buyers. All you need to do is attend and enjoy
the art. We appreciate your support. Thank you.
2:11 pm est
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
May 31st auction
Again the auction format failed to attract enough clients to create and exciting event. After three auctions I have
come to the conclusion that the word auction seems to intimidate people from attending. Not only does the word suggest
that whomever attends is expected to bid on art but it also restricted the bidding mostly to a short period of time at a specific
time. Perhaps not all were able to attend at that time.
The next event will be spread over two days, July 4th and
5th. During this event the auction format will also change to a silent auction, so that bids can be made during the
duration of the event. The decision of who wins the bid will be taken on Saturday july 5th at 5:05 pm. This will
involve more administration and paperwork but perhaps the extended time of the event will increase the attendance and since
the bidding is done in private this will not be as intimidating as a confrontational time of live bidding. Eventually
I will return to the live bidding format because the excitement generate by the bidding adds to the experience of the event.
But until the attendance level reaches a number to stimulate competitive bidding we'll trying this hybid version of an
auction.
So come to the exhibit and see the work of new and established artists and if you wish leave a bid of interest
with the attendant or send it by email before the cut off time. Again thanks for you support.
8:12 am est
Sunday, May 25, 2008
May 31st auction
The next auction is set for May 31st at 296 Brunswick Ave on the 2nd floor. I've found a lot of new artists and
the items offered for sale should show much more diversity. There is figurative, abstract, still life, cubist, expressionistic
and even, possibly, some pretty flowers with a twist. I'm trying to allay the fears that I believe the word 'auction'
evokes in many people. Even though I'm trying to create a market place for artists and any purchases are much appreciated
please don't shy away from attending to see what we have on offer. The artists are all working artists, and any
support would certainly be great for their confidence. And this is the opportunity for art lovers to discover new works
by artists that are not yet house hold names but I feel they will someday be. This is the chance to get in in the beginning.
This is the time to find art that will be part of you life and perhaps even your children's lives. It's a time
to establish your legacy both artistically and perhaps financially. Come and join us. 296 Brunswick Ave is three
blocks east of Bathurst St. There will be a viewing of the work on the Saturday from 11 am to 2 pm. The auction
will start at 2 pm. Come join us. Thanks.
10:28 pm est
Monday, May 5, 2008
April 26th summary
The second auction on April 26th was cancelled because of the TTC strike. It was a disappointment to say the least but
life goes on. The next auction to be held on May 31st is in the works.
Art and selling art is a complex
endeavour that has its ups and downs. You have moments of elation and then the depths of despair. To survive and
continue to create is the goal for all of us involved in the arts. Sometimes one questions the purpose of ones art but
at the end the answer has to be that your life would be missing something essential without your art. Perhaps I'm
stating the obvious but my mind tonight is distracted. Just thinking of the future and knowing what has just happened is
totally forgotten, wiped away. Perhaps this is my way of surviving. Keep on creating.
11:03 pm est
Saturday, April 12, 2008
april 12 2008
There are two weeks left before my second auction. I've recruited three different artists that will give me artwork
to auction. I was actually thinking that I'd have more artists by now interested in selling their art. There
seems to be a hesitation in most of the artists I've known for a long time to submit their work for the auction.
I'm not sure what is causing this hesitation. At first I thought it was because my company is new and that they
wanted to see if I could pull it off, whether it would be a success or not. I admit that in terms of sales the company
is still new and the sales for the first auction were somewhat nominal. Still the day of the auction was influenced
by the blizzard we had that day. But apart from the sales I do think the energy and intentions of the auction was positive.
There is another reason at work preventing the artists from put their work for sale by auction. At first I suspected
that it might be a feeling of insecurity every artist has when they put their work on display and especially when it
involves having someone spending money to own the piece. Of course not everyone will sale a piece and that may
be taken as a sign of rejection by some. This is an issue for most artists and it's a personal reflection that touches
their sense of worth. It is difficult to separate oneself from the art one creates. It comes from their spirit
and so they inevitably are attached to their creations. And if they aren't sold it is taken as a rejection of them
as a person--as an artists. It tells us that we must compartmentalize our lives. That once the work has been created
it enters the public realm and that it no longer must be taken as a personal reflection on the artist.
11:27 pm est
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
2nd auction/April 26
It's great to announce my second auction is being organized for April 26th. I'm in the process of reviewing
a number of new submissions from artists that are new to me. The auction will be held in a multi-purpose space above
the old Poor Alex Theatre on Brunswick Ave just south of Bloor W. It will present a few challenges because it is in
a transitional phase but I believe I'll be able to show a more varied collection and not feel restricted because it's
a more private space. I'm looking forward to it and hope that it won't be snowed out or disrupted by any other
natural disaster. If there are any artists out there reading this and you're interested in participating please
contact me at my email for more info. Thanks
11:39 pm est
Sunday, March 9, 2008
1st auction
March 8th has come and gone. The first auction has not been the great event I had envisioned. The whole
day was disrupted by one of the worst blizzards of the year and we have had several this year.. A total of about 15
people showed up. I was hoping for 50 to 60. Was it the weather? Was it the intimidation factor of an auction
because it suggests that people attend to buy. Unlike an opening for an art exhibit where the socializing is a major
draw, an auction implys selling. It's not for wine and cheese. It's for buying art, making a commitment
to supporting artists by investing financial resources along with their talk. This no doubt adds pressure to the
experience.
I have to find a way to reduce the pressure, so that the attendance can improve. I need the numbers
in order to create the energy during the event. I hope to learn from the first auction and improve it, make it grow.
1:02 am est
Friday, February 1, 2008
announcement
The first auction venue has been finalized. It will take place in the upstairs foyer of the Bloor Cinema at
506 Bloor St. W. The viewing/exhibit with start on Feb. 18th and continue until Mar. 8th during business hours.
The auction will take place on Saturday Mar. 8th at 11am sharp. The doors will open at 10am. The artwork will
be a collection of a variety of styles and and price ranges. We will be auctioning paintings and drawings that
are immediate and personal and will touch the viewer on diffent levels. This is contemporary art addressing immediate
concerns of the artists in our contemporary world. We hope that each artist speaks to you with a personal
language. Please join us.
10:27 pm est
Friday, January 25, 2008
Jan.24, 2008
Plans are moving along. I've found a venue for the first auction. It is not ideal, but it should be an interesting
location for the first auction. Because it is a public space there are a few limitations but the space should allow
the work a greater exposure to the public. So one will balance the other. The immediate task now is to finalize
the artwork and begin my promotion. I want this to be successful, not just in number of sales but also in the exposure
it gets. It is the stepping stone to future auctions and their success. Now the true business part of this project
begins.
1:40 am est
Friday, December 14, 2007
As an artists I always shied away from too much conscious control, and yet as a business person I have to create a business
on a methodical logical way. Questions were constantly asked during the business seminar about how to make a sure projection
of future success and yet everytime I attempted to take a step forward according to my business plan something got in my way.
Someone or thing bounced me off my path and I had to start again from the beginning.
At present there is a good
possibility that I will be able to hold my first auction in February...if everything goes right. That's if everything
goes right. There are still several obstacles to be overcome until that final day, when I'll stand at the podium
or in front of, hopefully a fair sized crowd of art lovers and buyers, and auction off my fist piece of art.
I'm
already starting to feel the anxious. It my nature...but I'll continue on.
12:57 am est
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Nov 8/07
A month has flown by. Has there been any progress? Yes and No. The complexity of my enterprise is becoming
clearer to me as I live through the formative stages of setting up an art business. Even the phrase art business
makes me uncomfortable. But the reality is that in order to achieve my goal of get more art out into society I must approach
what I'm doing as a business.
Whenever art is discussed most people are all for it. We all have opinions about
art. When it come to the purchase of art there is a hesitation, perhaps because it's considered by our society as
a luxury and not a necessity. It is true that art can not shelter us from the elements or fill our stomachs when
we are hungry but the reality is that art fills the void present at the core of our being. Or so I believe that is what
authentic art should do. We use substitutes for art in the form of gadgets, clothes, over consumption of food, and perhaps
even religion. For is it not the function of Religion to fill the void in our beings that is created by the awareness
of our mortality. Unfortunately religion brings with it the structure of institutions which have nothing to do with
the spiritual. Religion's purpose has become one of power, to control and accumulate assets. In my opinion
art gave birth to religion. The mystery of life was fisrt reflect in images that later, much later led to one of its offsprings
religion. Art, in the sense of the mystery and wonder of our organism, was our first expression of the unknown.
Later we gave it an entity and power and called it God or its many other names. I have to end for now, will be back
soon.
9:01 am est
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Oct 7th
The pressure is mounting to crystalize my concept. I'm looking for artists and their work that I like, that say
something to me. It's difficult at times to make a decision as to what will likely sell and what is the kind of
art that I wish to be identified with. I promised myself that I would promote emotional art. What that means is
that I wish to bring back the feelings that come from the heart (passion) back into art. For too long the
prevalent art being promoted by critics and curators has been analytical-- glib art that is cute or witty.
They are like games that reflect the state of society. Much of what we see and is presented to us is virtuosity
of the mind without substance. I dare say that everything that is popular today is surface without dept.
My goal is to return art to its original purpose...to reflect the mystery of life that has the heart and mind in constant
dialogue. I must step into the vagueness of the future without fear. Prepared to ride the waves of chaos...
11:38 pm est
Monday, September 10, 2007
With the end comes the beginning
The theoretical stage of ADA is coming to an end. The implimentation of the idea is in the works with the climax
coming within the next few weeks. Art has been a part of my life for several decades and it is the one constant that
has survived through the ups and downs of expierience. When the heart ached the remedy was the canvas on the easel that
had been mocking me for days and weeks. Suddenly it had been transformed into the balm that eased the pain. The
torturer had become the soothing caress that eased the tightness in my throat and chest. Now I'm embarking on a
journey of not creating but selling. I've done this before in previous incarnations as a gallery owner. Each
time 'selling art' seemed to jar my mind into
9:49 pm est
Friday, August 10, 2007
motivation
There are times, sometimes long periods of time, when there appears nothing before me. I stare at an empty canvas waiting
for that moment of inspiration. Sometimes I wait and wait and wait and nothing comes.
I'm trying to formulate
the look, the motivation behind starting an auction house. Why not a gallery instead. The choice at times seems
obvious for what I'm doing. I want to move art into society. I want to help artists who are struggling to
make ends meet get some income for their work. I feel that putting their work on auction so that collectors and art
lovers can make their choices without intimidation. They can peruse the pieces on view and then make their decision
without a salesperson pressuring them to make an immediate decision. I'm hoping to find enough artists and buyers
to make this idea viable. So artists and art lovers please let me know what you think. Put your email on our list
so that we can send you info about our events when they happen. Talk to you soon.
11:49 pm est
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
It's become an interesting journey from the idea to the realization. The idea I've been carrying around with
me for several years. The realization forced itself on me when I was accepted in the business incubator program.
There are so many statistics, researches, ongoing issues of finances that at times I wish I could just go back and enjoy the
idea.
8:54 am est
Monday, July 30, 2007
Art and the art buyer
Artist's
Direct Auctions is a unique venture to bring more art to society. It makes the finding and acquisition of contemporary
art a personal search for that one piece (or pieces) that touches your mind and your heart. It is a discovery, a journey
that allows the buyer to unearth new artists and art that that will have a special place in their lives. You will be encountering
emerging and established artists while at the same time contribute to their continuing development.
3:33 pm est
