"Untitled (Heads)" by Amy Guidry; acrylic on canvas; (c) Amy Guidry 2010
One of my most recent works has found a new home already. My painting, “Untitled (Heads),” sold while at Wally Workman Gallery’s 30th Anniversary exhibit in Austin. The show is still up, so if you’ve missed it (or would like to go again!) there is still time to see it. The exhibit ends September 4th and gallery hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 10-5. I should also mention that two more of my recent works are also in this exhibit- “The Wild West” and “Survival of the Fittest.” So if you’re in the area, be sure to get a look at these in person since photos can never do the art justice. For more information, visit www.WallyWorkmanGallery.com. And if you would like to see my entire portfolio, visit www.AmyGuidry.com.
"Everything's Coming Up Roses" by Amy Guidry; (c) Amy Guidry 2010
Yes, I know that titling this “Homecoming” conjures up thoughts of football and brightly colored taffeta. However, that’s not the type of homecoming I’m referring to. I’m exhibiting in the “Where Are They Now” exhibit at the Slidell Cultural Center at City Hall in Slidell, Louisiana. I was a student in the Talented Art Program during my junior high and high school days in St. Tammany Parish, so as an arts professional, I have been invited back to take part of their exhibit. The Times Picayune recently posted an article about the show, featuring one of my paintings- the direct link – www.nola.com. (Though it was too late to correct this for the papers, my work was featured on MTV’s Real World: Hollywood, not New Orleans.) Opening night will be this Friday- August 27th from 7-9pm. The exhibit will remain up through September 25th at City Hall.
I also found out that the Slidell Commission on the Arts has selected my work to be featured in a solo exhibition in the 2011-2012 cultural season. The exhibit will take place at the Slidell Cultural Center at City Hall. I’ll be sure to post more details closer to time. More information regarding shows can be found at www.AmyGuidry.com. You can also sign up for my newsletter on the Contact page of my site.
Amy Guidry's painting "Food or Pet? How Do You Decide", Wally Workman Gallery, Austin, TX
First, check out galleries that you think may like your work. You should never just blindly send out your portfolio, resume, what have you to a gallery without determining if they’re the right fit. And this should go without saying, but be sure that they are a gallery! Attend openings, meet curators, dealers, gallery owners and directors. If you can’t physically make it to a gallery, at the very least, you should check out their space online. Get to know the artists that they show. Can you see your work fitting in with a group exhibit of these artists?
Once you’ve determined which gallery or galleries you are interested in, you should prepare your presentation. These days, email is so common (sometimes it’s preferred) that I think it is okay to submit your work via email. However, if a gallery has a submissions policy, be sure to abide by that. If not, they’ll toss your work in the trash. If the submissions policy is not a clearly stated link on their website, try looking under the Contact Us page. If there is absolutely no information, contact the gallery for their guidelines.
Whether you submit your work via email or postal mail, be sure that your presentation is professional. First, get the name of the person you need to contact. Whether it’s the director, the curator, or the manager, find out their name. I know from personal experience, many just blindly send an email without even acknowledging my name. Why would I want to show their work (again, I’m not a gallery, but let’s pretend for a second) if they don’t even know who I am? So find out their name. Google it, ask someone, or contact the gallery itself- just find out!
The rest is easy. This is where you should put together your bio and/or resume, portfolio, and any other relevant information. You should have all of these at your fingertips already, but if not, now is the time to start. Make sure that all of your information and images are up to date. And be sure to spell check. It’s the little things that matter, so be sure to dot your i’s and cross your t’s.
If you send your information via email, be sure to use small image files. If you load down their inbox, they won’t be happy or they may not even receive your information at all. It could bounce or end up in a spam filter. So keep it small- 4MB total is best.
Sounds simple, and it really is if you keep everything up to date. Again, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me. www.AmyGuidry.com
As promised, here is my second post for the day. I was recently at the Wally Workman Gallery 30th Anniversary exhibit opening. It was packed, to say the least. Luckily, there were a few moments to get some photos (you pretty much have to wait until the crowd clears and then jump in with the camera). So here are a few photos for those of you that couldn’t make it. (Though there is still ample time since the exhibit is up through September 4th.) Actually, I would recommend that anyone at the opening come back for a second look. It is very difficult to get a good view of the art when it’s that crowded. One woman told me she felt claustrophobic! All in all, great show and should not be missed.
Oh, and for more photos from the 30th Anniversary exhibit, check out Michael Barnes’s post on Austin360.com. I am featured in one of the photos from the opening- here is the direct link- www.Austin360.com. And to view more of my work, visit www.AmyGuidry.com.
Artist Amy Guidry with her work at Wally Workman Gallery
Viewers at the 30th Anniversary exhibit
Artist Amy Guidry with Rachel Haggerty, Assistant Director of Wally Workman Gallery
Live music at the 30th Anniversary exhibit, Wally Workman Gallery
Viewers at the 30th Anniversary exhibit opening
Installation view of Amy Guidry’s paintings at Wally Workman Gallery
Installation view of Amy Guidry's work at The Alamo, Lafayette, LA
Two posts today… lots going on, but I wanted to inform everyone of Lafayette’s Artwalk schedule for this month. Artwalk happens this Saturday, August 14th in downtown Lafayette, LA. Gallery showings are as follows:
Acadiana Center for the Arts– 101 W. Vermilion St. / 337-233-7060
Main Gallery: August 14 – September 25, 2010- Michel Varisco: Shifting
Side Gallery: August 14 – September 4, 2010- Rajko Radovanovic: Last Line of Defense
Vault Series: August 14 – September, 25 2010- Kelly Guidry
Cajun Spice– 535 Jefferson St / 337-232-3061- Tina Thibodaux: Reflections
Cité des Arts– 109 Vine St. / 337-291-1122- 23 Photographs by Angelle-Leigh
Galerie Eclaireuse– 535 Jefferson St. / 337-234-5492- “Louisiana Landscapes” group show featuring the work of Erin Chance-Fenstermaker, Pegi Derby, Colleen McDaniel, Jane Noble, Steve Schneider, Jon Schooler and Dennis Sipiorski
Gallery 549– 549 Jefferson St. / 337-593-0796- Donald LeBlanc- “Landscapes and Little Head Totems”
Gallery R (at The Russo Group)- 116 E. Congress St. / 337-769-1530- Artwork of Michael Russo
Pottery Alley– 205 W. Vermilion St. / 337-267-4453- Art Under Wraps
Just a quick post this evening… sorry about that. Lots going on, which means I will have more to share soon. My work is currently on exhibit in the 2010 Art Melt at the Louisiana State Museum. As mentioned previously, the jurors for this year’s exhibit were Andrea Pollan, Executive Director of The Curator’s Office in Washington, D.C.; Denny Mecham, Executive Director of the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum in Biloxi, MS; and Paul Dean, Associate Professor at the LSU School of Art. The exhibit is up through August 28th. So here are a few photos from the preview party…
Artist Amy Guidry with juror Andrea Pollan, Director of The Curator’s Office
Viewers at the 2010 Art Melt, Louisiana State Museum
Amy Guidry with co-exhibiting artist Ralph Bourque
Another bit of news to mention- Avi Abrams of Dark Roasted Blend recently featured my work as part of their Surreal Art Update. It can be found under the page “Schizophrenic Episode Simulation.” View it at Dark Roasted Blend. And to view more of my work, be sure to visit www.AmyGuidry.com.
