"The Pack" by Amy Guidry; acrylic on canvas; 20"w x 10"h; (c) Amy Guidry 2012
I received some great news recently that my painting The Pack was selected for inclusion in the STAA 47th National Juried Exhibition- The Summer Show. The juror for the show is Miranda Lash, Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art for the New Orleans Museum of Art. The Pack is from my In Our Veins series and is an acrylic on canvas, 20″ wide by 10″ high. The exhibit will open July 14th, with an opening reception from 6-9pm at The Art House gallery in Covington, LA. The show will remain open through August 11th, with a closing reception as well from 6-9pm with a talk by several of the exhibiting artists.
Selected artists include: Michael Aldana, Casey Ausman, Peter Barnitz, Emily Binder, Andrew Boyd, Heather Brammeier, Alma Bryan Powell, Joshua Chambers, Yvette Creel, Robert Dutruch, Michael Elliott-Smith, Ellen Fisher, Pippin H. Frisbie-Calder, Richard Gilles, Amy Guidry, Kelly Hider, Jane Hill, Claire Lewis Evans, Patrick Lera, Patrick Luber, Don Maitland, Erin McKee McNutt, Sally Richards, Leslie Robertson, Kate Ryan, Charles Simms, Terry Vermillion, and Jaclyn Warren
"The United States of Consumerism" by Amy Guidry; acrylic on canvas; 30"w x 24"h; Private Collection; (c) Amy Guidry 2012
First, I should apologize for my absence last week. I have lots going on and much to share, which I will be doing over the week so be on the lookout. As some of you may know, last week the arts community of Louisiana received some sad news- legislators approved a 1/3 cut in Decentralized Arts Funding (DAF) and Statewide Art Grants (SAG). This affects an estimated 148,000 jobs, Louisiana’s tourism industry, as well as artists, teachers, museums, libraries, theaters, art centers, festivals, among others. The news is grim, especially given the fact the Arts tend to be the first that are cut and already do not receive enough funding. I personally know of small museums and art centers that have been struggling to get any kind of funding and risk closing.
So what can we do?
The most obvious answer deals with how we vote and voicing our opinion to local and national politicians. Thanks to the internet and groups such as Louisiana Citizens for the Arts, you can stay up to date on these issues and contact the appropriate individuals with the click of a button. And don’t worry about writing the most profound letter, either. My thoughts are as long as you are writing something, even if it’s just to send the form letter already provided, it will make a difference. All correspondence adds up.
That being said, politicians need to see numbers. Letters and phone calls are great, but it also boils down to whether the public is willing to put their money where their mouth is. You say you love art, but do you really? They need to see the numbers. Numbers being the tourism dollars, the tax revenue, the number of people attending arts events, and so on. If you want to prove that these artists and organizations matter, as well as support them along the way, you need to do the following:
Buy art— Seriously. This is not some propaganda I’m passing along because I’m an artist. If you buy art you’ll support artists, galleries, museums, and art centers so they can continue to thrive in your community rather than closing down or moving somewhere else where they appreciate art. In turn, those sales taxes and income taxes from art speak highly in the eyes of the government. Funding goes to those that make money and are a good investment.
Attend events— Support your local arts community by attending performances, exhibit openings, lectures, and so forth. You’ll have an entertaining evening and know you’re making a difference in the process. Even if it’s a free event, you’re still helping because those numbers matter.
Sign the guestbook— So many people attend an event and pass by the guestbook without signing. Maybe you don’t think it’s important or you are weary to share your information. Whatever the case may be, you need to sign the guestbook. Those names translate to numbers. Museums and art centers report those numbers in order to prove their importance and receive funding. No one wants to support a museum if they have no visitors. So sign your name- you don’t have to give any other information unless you want to- as long as there is a name, it adds to the numbers.
Become a member— Aside from government funding, these organizations receive funds from, well, you! Paying for an event is great, but if you really want to help, become a member. You can join any or all, and there are various levels for joining most groups. Many museums and art centers offer general membership at reasonable rates, some offer rates for students and seniors, so check their websites.
How do you support the Arts? Feel free to add ideas in the comments section.
“One” by Amy Guidry; acrylic on canvas; 6″x 6″; SOLD; (c) Amy Guidry 2012
Finally finished! I’ve just completed my painting for The Great West Coast Migration traveling exhibition. The title is One and it is an acrylic on canvas, 6″ x 6.” The exhibition is organized by PangeaSeed and will benefit sharks and oceans in Japan and abroad. Given that so many sharks are killed for their fins (a delicacy in Japan and China), this cause was of particular interest to me not only as an artist but as a vegan as well. People often think of sharks as vicious predators, (thanks, Media!) when in fact, they do not seek out humans and only a small percentage of shark attacks occur each year. I wanted to focus on them as being part of this world and just as significant as the rest of us. I combined the human faces with the shark body to illustrate them as one, or equals. The shark body floats in the air, in keeping with many of my other paintings, but also mimicking the hunted, hanging sharks I so often see. Such a simple title- One– and such a simple concept, yet we still struggle to see our planet as something to share rather than dominate.
The exhibition will begin this summer at the following galleries:
Seattle – Roq la Rue Gallery- July 13-15
Portland – Grass Hut Co.- July 20-22
San Francisco – Spoke Art Gallery- July 27-28
Los Angeles – LeBasse Project- August 2-4
Costa Mesa – The Artery- August 10-12
San Diego – Space 4 Art- August 17-19
"Perspective" by Amy Guidry; acrylic on canvas; 4" x 4"; SOLD; (c) Amy Guidry 2012
I’ve just added another new painting to my In Our Veins series. It is a 4″ x 4″ painting, acrylic on canvas, $100, titled Perspective. This is yet another example of why I use such tiny paintbrushes. The hare heads are about the size of a dime. The heads are representative of the typical view of animals- that they are simply a means to an end and are just parts and pieces we use or eat as opposed to sentient beings. I, however, don’t see them this way- hence the title Perspective– which is why I depict them in a manner that emphasizes the expressions of their faces or light colored, “human-looking” eyes.
"Symbiotic" by Amy Guidry; acrylic on canvas; 11"w x 14"h; (c) Amy Guidry 2012
Quick post today- lots going on and I’ll have plenty to share on here later so be on the lookout. The 3-person exhibition that I currently have at Barrister’s Gallery in New Orleans recently received a great write-up in the Gambit Weekly. Eric Bookhardt attended our exhibit, “Visions of the Unnatural World,” and gave us a positive review which you can check out here: www.bestofneworleans.com/blogofneworleans/archives/2012/05/15/review-new-works-at-barristers-gallery. The show is currently up through June 2nd.
For a change of pace, I will serve as the juror for the upcoming LAA “Eye of the Beholder” exhibition in Lafayette, LA. I was honored to be asked and more than happy to be this year’s juror. I’m excited to see the work that is submitted, especially as I am sure to see work by new artists and those that are just new to me, in addition to new work by artists that are fixtures in the art community here. The competition is regional and open to anyone in from Texas to Florida. Submission dates are May 16- 25, which is right around the corner, so get your entries in soon. Also, it is an open themed show, so don’t get too caught up in the exhibit title. More information can be found on the Lafayette Art Association website at this link: http://lafayetteart.org/wp/2012/05/eye-of-the-beholder-xxvi-submit-may-16-25/
Design by PangeaSeed Creative Director - Aaron Glasson (Rah Akaishi)
I have recently been invited to participate in The Great West Coast Migration, a touring art exhibition, organized by PangeaSeed in an effort to benefit sharks and oceans in Japan and beyond. According to PangeaSeed, “We are very excited to showcase a robust fund-raising art collection featuring works contributed by more than 100 internationally renowned artists, graphic designers, filmmakers and photographers. Almost all of our globally-based artist friends will be premiering their works for the first time ever in the United States. Also a percentage of the proceeds from the summer exhibitions will also help in aiding the startup of PangeaSeed’s inaugural west coast chapter whose mission and efforts will help further fundraising to keep sharks afloat on the west coast and around the world.”
The exhibition tour will take place at the following:
Seattle – Roq la Rue Gallery- July 13-15
Portland – Grass Hut Co.- July 20-22
San Francisco – Spoke Art Gallery- July 27-28
Los Angeles – LeBasse Project- August 2-4
Costa Mesa – The Artery- August 10-12
San Diego – Space 4 Art- August 17-19
Participating artists include: Dave Kinsey, Mike Stilkey, Brad Klausen, Yoram Benz, Skinner, Gale Hart, Shark Toof, Bwana Spoons, Craig Tapecat McCudden, Bigfoot, Danny Miller, Rah Akaishi, Justin Lovato, Lindsey Carr, Serge Gay Jr., Brett Amory, Robert Bowen, Ryan Maguire, MCA, Mario Wagner, John Fellows, Ronzo, Sylvia Ji, Toshikazu Nozaka, Michael Alm, Lindsey Way, Remo Camerota, Cometdebris (Koji Harmon), Gargamel, Blunt Graffix (Matt Dye), Samuel Rodriguez, Aaron De La Cruz, Ben Tour, Linnea Strid, Crajes, Becky and Louise, Max Dalton, Olek, Caitlin Hackett, Derek Nobbs, Jeni Yang, Scott Belcastro, Yoh Nagao, Joshua Petker, Flick Ford, Lisa Congdon, Josie Morway, Luciano Scherer, Scott Hove, Tati Suarez, Tugboat Printers, Victor Castillo, Peap Tarr, Meg Adamson, SHERYO, Aidan Monahan, The Yok, Spencer Keeton Cunningham, Cinzah Merkins, Nao Harada, Sage Vaughn, Adam Wallacavage, Erik Otto, Mr. Jango, P Williams, Morgan Slade, Jasper Wong, Flavien Demarigny, Laura Ball, Courtney Mattison, La Pandilla, Sam Rulz, Casey Grey, Greg Simkins, Jim Phillips, Nathan Spoor, Kid Creature, Ransom and Mitchell, Cupco (Luke Temby), Kelly Allen, Sean Tuttle, Amy Guidry, Kozyndan, Rhys Cooper, John Stuart Berger, Bruce Gossett, Sandra Cappelletti, Michael King, Carbon, Kim Scott, Ashley Suzanne Taylor, Mika Tenekoon, Pascal Lecocq, APAK, Asher Jay, Trip Airways, Kaoru Sakai, Jim Mazza, Winnie McDonald, Rob Mack, Jeremy Pruitt, Rick Rietveld, Ben Brough, Caspian de Looze, Nathan Paul Gibbs, Thaddeus Strode, Paul Kaiju, Le Merde, Vexta, Kool Kid Kreyola, Foerdl Scheichenost
I’ll be posting my finished piece for the exhibit here (and the links below) so be on the lookout.
Bizarre Beyond Belief- Amy Guidry In Our Veins feature
My work was recently featured on Bizarre Beyond Belief, a site that is “dedicated to the brilliant, beautiful and bizarre.” Several works from my latest series In Our Veins are featured. Check it out here: http://bizarrebeyondbelief.com/2012/04/27/amy-guidry-in-our-veins/.
I’ve discussed donating art a few years ago on this blog, but since this is such a debated topic, I thought it would be useful to revisit it. It’s great to have someone think so highly of your art that they believe it would help their organization to auction it off. On the other hand, as your career progresses, you’ll find that you are being asked to donate your work to auctions A LOT. Sometimes one a week. At that rate, you won’t have any art left to sell. So what’s an up and coming artist with a heart of gold to do? Well it won’t be easy, but you’ll have to pick the ones you want to help (and feasibly can) and politely let the others know that you can’t.
Sounds simple enough, right? There are a few considerations to keep in mind first. Obviously if the auction/charity/event is to benefit something close to your heart, then those are the causes you’ll want to start with. Some causes may not be in line with your beliefs- for example, I am a vegan, therefore I will only donate to charities that do not test on animals. While you are narrowing down your favorites, also take a look at the event details:
Where is the event venue? Is it a venue that you are proud to be associated with?
What is to become of your donated art- is it going to be hung on a museum wall or is it being used in an auction?
If it is an auction, what happens if the work is not sold– do you get it back?
Do you like the other artists’ work that will be seen with yours?
If it is an auction, is the starting bid price at a reasonable rate so as not to devalue your work? Can you set the starting bid price yourself? Can you set a reserve amount?
Do you get a percentage of the sale?
Will you receive free tickets to the event (presumably for you and a guest)?
If you cannot answer these questions, then don’t be shy- find out from the event organizer or coordinator. Many organizations, while they mean well, do not realize that artists get these requests quite often and that they are essentially asking you for a donation worth hundreds or thousands of dollars, so don’t feel bad about looking out for yourself. Also, be aware many organizations will try to sell you on the idea of donating as a tax write-off. This is only partly true. You can only deduct the supplies/materials used to create the piece. Youcannotwrite-off the actual art donated. (This only applies to collectors of art that has appreciated so they donate to museums and get out of paying income tax on the appreciation.) It’s unfair, I know, but that’s how it works, at least in the United States. If you’re looking to get some sort of deduction, you should just write a check to the organization. If you are happy with the event parameters and have available work to donate, go ahead with it, attend the event, and do some networking. Perhaps the auction winner will become your next collector…
The latest edition of Vegan Mainstream’s VStream Zine is now available. I am honored to be a part of their feature on Vegan Professionals. I’ve also had the opportunity to learn about many other vegan companies and services as a result. The issue is about change, whether it pertains to ourselves or changing the world, so many of the professionals, myself included, relate our stories of change through our business. With my artwork, I hope to have a positive impact and create change starting with my viewers, and hopefully-maybe-if-I’m-lucky that has a chain reaction. If you would like to read my story, as well as the many other stories, recipes, and articles featured, you can order a download here (as well as get a sneak peek): www.veganmainstream.com/vstream-magazine-ebook-book-guide-zine-vegans.
