Vantage Art Projects (VAP) emerged from a desire to do something different in the contemporary art world that could connect artists, curators, galleries, and collectors. Primarily with, but not limited to, the goal of growing collectors for the vast pool of creative talent in Canada, VAP began as an intense conversation over lattes. That expanded to pro/con lists, flow charts and major mark making on white boards. Jen Mawby, one of the 2 principals of VAP had been cooking an idea for a couple of years, reinforced by the inspiration of an American project, Jen Bekman 20x200 and a larger organization in Germany called Lumas. I had been quietly infusing myself in the contemporary fine art world as a gallerist, art dealer and consultant for the past 15 years. Jen, in addition to being an artist, has an extensive background in business consulting, computers and design. With our combined talents, interests and mutual curiosity of "there must be a better way to support the art world, ourselves and still have fun..." VAP was born. A new way to communicate about art!
Where we mirror Jen Bekman is in our offering of limited edition digital prints of cool artists. Where we depart, is that we also offer a couple of other project streams involving catalogues and exhibitions in print. To get us off on our fresh start, we decided to launch VAP with our print projects under our Fresh Picks moniker. I am curating a year of images which we release twice a month (that's 24 artists to watch out for in a year). Think of it as art therapy 24x's a year and you basically receive a page out of a fine art book folio every 2 weeks if you collect the entire offering. The prints come in 3 sizes. A folio case to house the smallest size is in the works. Or frame up a couple and interchange the images over the year for variety.
We launched VAP in October in conjunction with Art Toronto and our 3rd 'art hit' has just been released - check out www.vantageartprojects.com and click onto the Fresh Picks start to take a peek.
The energy at the Toronto art fair was fantastic despite it being the week after the economic sky as we knew it fell and doom and gloom was predicted everywhere. We were encouraged to hear that the keynote speaker at the Art Dealers Association brunch inquired if anyone in Canada was doing anything like Jen Bekman 20x200! That the art world needed to get creative and make art more accessible. Just wish we'd been there to sign him up for a subscription!!! But don't worry, an information package is on it's way to Mr. Corporate Curator :)
In a couple of weeks, Jen & I should have news on Art Miami to share.
In the new year, we'll have news for how artists can submit to us for exhibition-in-print catalogues - how collectors can get their own private collections catalogued - and more.
If you're reading this and you're curious, log onto our site, sign up for our newsletters and announcements and get yourself or a friend a Fresh Pick!
artfully yours,
S
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