Getting a city to buy your artwork
“Your Honor, the jury has reached a verdict: we need to spend money on art, for the good of Seattle’s residents, its employees and its artists. The following are the artworks we recommend the city adding to its art collection...”
Artist Colleen Monette’s reaction to learning her collage will enter Seattle’s municipal art collection.
Okay, it didn’t actually go down like that. But it did take a while for me and four other art professionals to review the applications — 816 of them, with one to four artworks submitted per application. It’s usually between 100 to 200 applications. But a check from the city for your art looks really good while COVID-19 keeps people at home and spending less.
A mural on a boarded-up business reminds viewers that the coronavirus quarantine will end soon.
Here’s what I learned, as a panelist, that might strengthen your application next year.
Submit at least one ‘challenging’ work: Yes, even for an office setting. I remember an artwork with clear references to European colonialism, and it still made the final cut. The hope is that the work prompts uncomfortable but important conversations and action, from visitors and employees alike.
Avoid overthinking your art submission: Never mind picking “office-friendly” art. Submit at least one piece you love, even if you’re sure it’s too weird/ dark/ whatever. One application contained a single artwork that would probably fit into any office. We didn’t pick it.
Give it another shot: Apply again next year, especially if the panelists change every year. That means new people who might choose artworks totally unlike what the city already owns. Also, city art budgets expand and contract. It’s very possible the jurors adored your work, but ran out of money this year.
One last thing: signing up for an arts organization’s mailing list is worth it. You’re less likely to miss out on — or miss the deadline for — an opportunity that’s crying out for your work. Congratulations to Colleen Monette and the other selected artists!
Happy birthday, little website!
The Husband just pointed out to me that my lil' website is now a toddler. It's my two-year anniversary on lisamb.com!
These last two years have been eventful, to say the least. I nearly broke my brain with all the stuff I learned in Artist Trust's EDGE Professional Development program for visual artists.
Turns out it was just a sprain. Since then I've shared innumerable work-in-progress photos and videos...
I've celebrated here when I convinced people to give me money in exchange for my art...
"Best of the Northwest" art festival, fall 2015
and this year some generous folks gave me a big hand in sustaining my career as an artist who parents small children.
So now we're here: I'd like to invite you to the opening reception for my latest show, "HEX and the Monstrous Feminine"!
Please join me at Twilight Gallery on October 13th: we'll celebrate feminine fire plus my little digital birthday!
Kent Summer Arts Exhibit: live, and on video too
City of Kent videographer: Hey, would you be willing to be interviewed about your work that's in the Kent Summer Arts Exhibit?
Me: Sure, why not?
This video is a lovely introduction to my work and why I do it. You can also see the works of Vikram Madan, Barbara Noonan, SIEGE and many others live and in person at Kent's Centennial Center Gallery. The video is now airing on the city of Kent's TV station and on Vimeo. So even if you can't see it in person -- and you really should, because the variety of art is AMAZING -- you can see it at home or online until the exhibit closes August 29th. (And yes, all the artworks are for sale.)
So many thanks to Steve Vaught, Edgar Riebe and Ronda Billerbeck at the City of Kent for this opportunity. And extra special thanks to jurors Humaira Abid and Joseph Steininger, who chose four of my pieces for this show!