Sharing Art Career Expertise With The Rickie Report And Artsy Shark Plus A Call To Artists

Carolyn Edlund (Artsy Shark) and Rickie Leiter (The Rickie Report) share a Call to Artists plus Part I of an interview which focuses on increasing your art audience.  The Rickie Report shares both and hopes you will not only apply to the Call for Artists ( DEADLINE  is July 7, 2022  at midnight), but consider how to grow your business.

 

 

 

 

 

Clockwise from top left: Cheryl Magellan, Hannah Billingham, Jane Yuen Corich, Karen Rand Anderson, David Tulbert, Emma Cavell

 

 

 

 

Your artist feature is promoted to our large social media following (80,000+) and emailed to more than 25,000 subscribers, exposing your art to a vast audience.

After your feature publishes, you will receive a PDF copy of your portfolio article in magazine style format to use as marketing collateral that continues to promote you as an artist.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The    Interview:

 

 

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Advice for Artists: Secure Opportunities and Promote Your Events

Arts advocate and marketing expert Rickie Leiter shares recommendations on how artists can make the most of opportunities and publicity.

 

Rickie Leiter, founder of The Rickie Report, covers the South Florida visual art scene. She publishes feature stories, presents upcoming events and opportunities, and provides helpful tips for artists of all types to publicize their work and further their art careers. Rickie outlines proven ways for artists to assess and successfully apply to calls, and gain exposure when accepted.

 

 

The Rickie Report

 

Why apply?

First, to determine why you are applying to a specific Call for Artists, ask these questions:

  • Do you have enough body of work to apply?
  • Has this been a successful show for you in the past?
  • If it’s a new venue, what are your goals?
  • How will being in this exhibit help your business grow?
  • Will it help you network with others to amplify your own work in the future?

Take moment to consider what being in an exhibit means for your business. While your goal is to sell and make a profit, you need to consider the exposure as part of your advertising and marketing budget. You have one, right?

Every successful business has a marketing plan, and it helps to create a two-year calendar for this purpose. The calendar will allow you to keep track of exhibits and shows you are in and those you are applying to and waiting to hear from.

Make an inventory list so you know which pieces may be committed to a certain exhibit or show. This prevents mistakes and avoids confusion.

Take note of exhibits and shows that have already occurred, but that you were interested in. Sign up for their mailing list to hear about future opportunities and place them on your calendar. Keep aspiring to reach new goals and grow your business—this means considering Calls to Artists that may be out of your current comfort zone.

The application process

Once you identify a Call you want to pursue, read every aspect of the application carefully. Many artists are not accepted because they miss small details in the application process. Make sure your jpegs are the correct resolution and are the best they can be. This is the first step of the jurying process that separates those accepted from those who are not.

Having juried online exhibits in the past, I can tell you that your images are your best shot (no pun intended) at presenting your work. If your artwork is textural, can the juror see the subtle changes in texture?  If the object is 3D, can the juror see all of it? Simple things like making sure your reflection doesn’t show in a photo say a lot about your professionalism.

On your calendar, note the details of drop off, set up, take down, and pick up. Will you need to designate someone else to drop off or pick up your work if you’re not available on the listed dates? Think about all the contingencies and have a plan.

When you are accepted

 

Your work isn’t over once you get accepted. Now is the time to tell the world how excited you are to be participating! Ask the convener of the exhibit or show for a press release and press kit so you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Don’t rely on the show producer, exhibit coordinator, or gallerist to do all of the publicity work. This is a collaborative effort; each party has responsibilities to make the event as successful as possible. Contact your media list, social media list and email list. Share your excitement about the acceptance. And add information about the event to your website immediately, keeping your list of shows and exhibits up to date.

If this is a new show for you, decide how you are going to orient yourself before you arrive. Do you have a checklist of what to bring? (business cards and signage are the major items artists forget when I meet them at shows). Do you know anyone in the area? Are you involved in an organization that has a local chapter and can make some introductions?  If you have a specific theme, what local organizations might you partner with before you arrive? You may be an artist who works alone, but you need to enlist a team of supporters to be successful!

If you are not accepted

 

When you receive notice of non-acceptance, keep notes on any feedback that was provided by the juror. If none are offered, you can certainly ask! In my experience, sometimes an acceptance is merely a consideration of wall space. The juror liked your artwork and another person’s artwork. Their piece was a few inches smaller, so it was accepted and yours was not. Or theirs fit the theme of the exhibit better, once the jurying got underway. Learn from this experience. Otherwise, you will continue to throw your money out the window by applying for events with little understanding.

 

 

 

Art Gallery shot

 

Use your involvement to promote events and go beyond

 

 

Rickie’s 2-foot rule: Share your passion with anyone who comes within two feet of you! This includes your social media and your friends’ and colleagues’ social media. Include your compelling news in an email to everyone on your list. This is not the time to be shy. You are not asking for anyone to buy. You are sharing your passion.

Practice will help you feel comfortable with your elevator speech. Make it your own. As a jewelry artist, polymer clay creator, and mosaicist, I have changed my own delivery a number of times. What has not changed is my inspiration to create.

If someone in the grocery store asks how my day is going, I tell them how excited I am that I just was accepted into a national art show with my artwork! First, they are usually surprised that anyone actually responds to the question. Second, I find that most people are excited for me. Third, when they see me again, they are invested emotionally in how my art business is progressing.

I know you’re reading this and rolling your eyes. Will that clerk buy a $250 necklace from me? I don’t know. I never assume what people spend their money on or how much money they have. (A good book about this is The Millionaire Next Door). If that clerk isn’t interested, he or she may know someone who is. That is why you share your passion.

Impress the press

 

If the event you are doing involves a non-profit, make sure they have your press release to send out to their clients, volunteers, and board members. (A written agreement should delineate what they are responsible for and what you are responsible for).

Don’t wait until the “end of the year letter” to connect with everyone. Do it now. Include local media, such as local newspapers, arts newspapers, PBS radio, and local television. Don’t assume they won’t be interested. You cannot know what story lines they are currently developing, and yours might be perfect!

Get in touch with your network of contacts and ask them to share your exciting news with their friends and family (you’d do that for them, right?)

My own publication, The Rickie Report, has a production calendar that is often booked by organizations 6-9 months in advance for articles. While I have openings, it is best to contact me 6-8 weeks in advance to book a publication spot. Please don’t wait until the week before the exhibit to ask for one. That said, there are sometimes cancellations, so it never hurts to contact media resources at the last minute just in case.

Send out your press release and then follow up. Emails can get lost or go to spam, and are often unopened. You work too hard to let this slip through the cracks. If you don’t feel comfortable calling to see if they received it, send a text and a jpeg as a reminder.

You can also make an impression by sending a snail mail invitation. If you’re presenting a lecture at a local restaurant, for instance, send an invitation with one tea bag (in sturdy packaging) and ask the person to join you. Even if they can’t attend, you have caught their attention with your creativity and by going an extra step!

 

 

 

 

For more information :

 

Want to stay current on cutting edge business articles from Artsy Shark, plus artist features, and an invitation to the next Call for Artists? Subscribe to twice-monthly Updates, and get a free e-book on Where to Sell Art Online right now!

Carolyn Edlund:  410.977.2915

Carolyn@ArtsyShark.com

www.ArtsyShark.com

 

 

 

For coverage of your events, to place an advertisement, or speak to Rickie about appearing in The Rickie Report, contact:

Rickie Leiter, Publisher

Rickie@therickiereport.com   561-537-0291

17019 SW Sapri Way   Port St. Lucie, FL 34986

 

 

Cheryl Phan’s Personalized Program ”First Things First” Can Help You Turn Your Hobby Into A Business In 30 Days

Cheryl Phan has over 35 years of experience in sales and marketing, having worked for some “Big Name” corporations.  Going into business for herself helped hone her skills even more. She is now offering “First Things First” and is helping women turn their hobbies into workable businesses in 30 days.  Cheryl’s first hand knowledge and willingness takes “newbies” toward entrepreneurial independence in an empowering and exciting way! Cheryl’s FREE Startup Mini Course begins June 6 -10. She’ll teach you 5 easy steps to getting started in your own business and share step-by-step videos.  The Rickie Report shares the details.

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.subscribepage.com/ftfminicourse

 

 

 

 

It’s all happening on:

 

 

With over 35 years’ experience in sales and marketing, Cheryl Phan has work with companies such as Clear Channel Radio, CBS Radio, Fox TV, Palm Beach Post, KB Advertising and she is the owner of three self-made businesses.  In 2002 Cheryl took a courageous step, leaving the TV and Radio industry to be her own boss and start her own decorative painting business in Palm Beach County Florida.

 

 

Cheryl has established herself in the business building area implementing sales and marketing campaigns that move product, drive traffic, and increase sales.  Her true gift is coaching other women how to turn their hobby into an online business with real-world knowledge, simple techniques and sprinkled with fun. 

 

 

 

Cheryl lives in West Palm Beach, Florida and is a proud mother of two daughters and four grandchildren. She also serves at The Hand Of Hope special needs ministry. Philanthropy has always been a passion and helping other comes naturally.  Although she wears many hats, art is her real love.



 

 

 

https://www.subscribepage.com/ftfminicourse

 

 

 

My Story

 

Cheryl shares with The Rickie Report, “I’m going to be very vulnerable right now and tell you what happened to me back in 2008. Remember the recession? It’s hard to forget especially when it hits you hard. I had a decorative painting business and I still do to this day, but back then I didn’t prepare myself for the what if….  The business was going great. I was making a ton of money. I had a crew of people working for me and life was good”. 

 

My wake-up call

 

Cheryl says, “Until the bomb hit, and everyone was losing their homes, including me and to make matters more challenging , I had a hip replacement a few months before it happened. I was in panic mode. I was scared and put my business on hold and took a job making peanuts working 40+ hours a week that barely paid my monthly bills.  The bad news was I was laid off. The good news is it forced me to take along hard look at my life and what I was going to do to generate an income. I swore I would never let that happen again. So, I put on my big girl panties, pulled up my bootstraps and started my decorative painting business back up again, but this time I made some changes. I knew that I couldn’t depend on painting one job at a time. That’s when I took my business online and started building multiple streams of income from my painting business”. 

 

 

Sure, it was a little bit of work…

but I only had two choices:

 

 

 

 #1 I could go work for someone else and live paycheck-to-paycheck with no job security.

 

 

OR…

 #2 I could step out of my comfort zone and learn new and innovative ways to build my business. 

 

 

 

I decided on option #2 the benefits outweighed the reality. 

(Let me say this, if I can do this at 64 years old, so can you!!!)

 

 

 

It’s not rocket science, it a learning curve!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.subscribepage.com/ftfminicourse

 

 

Fast forward to 2022

 

During my journey on social media, my following started grow, new leads started pouring in and people started asking me for advice on how to start their own business. (BTW, this is the number one reason most women never get started, because they don’t know where to start).  I spent numerous hours responding to DM’s and messages until one day I decided to take my business knowledge, and experience and start sharing it with other women who are in the same boat I was in just a few years ago. 

 

FULL DISCLOSURE

 

When I started my business 20 years ago, I had no clue what I was doing. I made a LOT of mistakes and many of them were costly. I don’t want to see others make the same mistakes. I’m also a true believer in “#paying it forward”. When you are a blessing to others you will also be blessed. So long story short, I am now coaching women how use their God given talent to make money online doing what they love. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now for the good stuff!

 

 

 

I created a course called “First Things First”, because let’s face it, nobody has years to figure this out, especially when you’re over fifty. 

 

I’m giving away the first 5 modules from my course in a Free Mini course webinar. This is where I will teach you how to set up your business from scratch and get legit. Remember, If you’re not legit, you’re still a hobby. 

 

 

My hope is that you’ll not only feel inspired, but also know I’m here to help in any way I can. If you have a dream of starting a business, it is possible!

 

Get the details and let’s get you started!

Why Not, It’s FREE!

 

 

https://www.subscribepage.com/ftfminicourse

 

 

 

The #1 reason most women don’t start their own business is because they don’t know where to start. 


No more excuses, because I’m handing you the first 5 modules from my course on a silver platter. I’m going to show you exactly what you need to do to GET STARTED

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are you struggling to make sales on social media?

Are you tired of watching everyone else make money?

Are you dabbling with your hobby and want to turn it into a real business?

 


If this is you, I want to invite you to my FREE Startup Mini Course. I’m going to teach you 5 easy steps to getting started in your own business without the tech.  I share step-by-step videos teaching you exactly what to do, I’ll give you worksheets to help you peruse through without being overwhelmed and all my resources, so you don’t have to figure it out on your own

 

Even if you have already started your business, I would encourage you to attend there may be some golden nuggets that will help you expand your business. Plus, I’ll have some awesome prizes for you to grab while you’re there. 

 

 

It’s all happening on:

  • June 6-10-2022

  • Register to attend the private “Startup Biz” Facebook group

  • No particular time: Come each day when you can

What   exactly   are   you   waiting   for?

 

The time is NOW!

Click on this link and grab your seat. 


Hope to see you there!
Cheryl

 

For more information about Cheryl Phan:

Business Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/coachcherylphan

Website: https://cherylphan.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylphan/

Pinterest:   https://www.pinterest.com/cherylphan/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cherylphan1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cherylphan1/

You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/c/cherylphan

Artzy Fartzy Creations website: http://artzyfartzycreations.com

 

 

 

 

For coverage of your events, to place an advertisement, or speak to Rickie about appearing in The Rickie Report, contact:

Rickie Leiter, Publisher

Rickie@therickiereport.com   561-537-0291

17019 SW Sapri Way   Port St. Lucie, FL 34986

Caren Hackman Takes Us On A Behind-The-Scenes Tour With Norton Museum Docent Jo-Anne Weingarden

The Rickie Report takes you behind the scenes into the life of a museum docent with Jo-Anne Weingarden.  We thank Caren Hackman for interviewing Jo-Anne and taking some photos at the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach, FL.  While her path was not straightforward, we wend our way into a deeper understanding of what it means to lead a group into the vast collection of art and special exhibits.  Enjoy this interview and some peeks.

 

 

 

 

“What started as a journey to learn more about art for her personal purchase became a passion that has never waned”.

 

 

 

 

Jo-Anne Weingarden at Olafur Eliasson’s Cosmic Gaze at the Norton Museum of Art

 

 

Jo-Anne Weingarden and her husband wanted to buy some artwork for their home, but they wanted to know exactly what they were buying; not just pieces that might match their sofa. To help with this purchase, the couple decided to take classes to learn more about art.  And so began a life’s journey that led Jo-Anne to a 40-year career as a docent, first at the Detroit Institute of Art (DIA), and now for the Norton Museum of Art. What started as a journey to learn more about art for her personal purchase became a passion that has never waned.

 

 

 

Jo-Anne Weingarden with Constantin Brancusi’s Mademoiselle Pogany at the Norton Museum

 

 

 

While taking classes, Jo-Anne was also facing being an empty-nester; as her youngest child headed off to college. That was when someone suggested she investigate becoming a docent. She ended up applying to the DIA, one of the largest art museums in the United States. Taking this chance led to 25 years of a wonderful and interesting volunteer experience. “The museum has an encyclopedic collection and when you walk past all the art history and textbooks, the walls became alive,” she said.

 

 

Becoming a docent isn’t a simple journey – it was two years of intensive study at the DIA. In addition, being a docent obviously required public speaking skills, of which Jo-Anne had a life-long fear. She was so shy that while working as a substitute teacher in previous years, “I would eat in my classroom rather than with the other teachers.”  But, in her evolution from mother and substitute teacher to docent, Jo-Anne conquered her shyness and has become a proficient speaker to art enthusiasts of all ages, from children through adults, to art newbies, to connoisseurs.

 

 

 

Jo-Anne Weingarden with Yinka Shonibare  “Le Meduse” at The Norton Museum

 

 

 

While JoAnn and her husband, Jerry, visited major international art galleries in earlier years, it was during her studies that she gained a true appreciation. “Our first trip to Italy was in 1969. We had been to the Prado and the Uffizi museums, but it’s one thing to walk through and only have your basic knowledge to relate to; it’s another to have a rich educational background when seeing the actual art again. Art is a product of the times and can be appreciated at all levels. It’s sort of like going to Disney World. There are so many levels to experience and enjoy”. 

 

 

“Learning is continuous for docents, especially when the museum hosts special exhibits or assimilates new work into the permanent collection”.

 

 

When the Weingardens moved to Palm Beach County from Detroit, a friend suggested Jo-Anne volunteer as a docent at the Norton Museum of Art. At the Norton, due to her past education and experience from the DIA, Jo-Anne was given permission to skip over some of the basics of art history and begin her new docent education of the Norton collections. Learning is continuous for docents, especially when the museum hosts special exhibits or assimilates new work into the permanent collection. However, even as a new docent, Jo-Anne feels that while the learning is very time consuming, “It is always extremely rewarding. You continue to learn as you attend classes with and guide a new group of docents through the process.” 

 

 

 

Jo-Anne Weingarden with Nosadella “Madonna and Child in Glory” at Norton Museum

 

 

JoAnn explained that the Norton’s docent training is ever-evolving and that Glenn Tomlinson, the curator of education, is a strong proponent of the inquiry method, which is based on a program developed by Philip Yenawine, creator of “Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS),” method of arts education.”  “When I started at the DIA, I was trained in the inquiry method, which was not really well-known at the time in the museum world. The inquiry method requires the docent to engage the group, not to lecture to them. You interact on all levels. Jo-Anne has mentored future docents with some of these same methods and techniques that she was previously taught.

 

 

 

“The inquiry method requires the docent to engage the group, not to lecture to them. You interact on all levels. Visiting a museum involves more of a conversation between visitor and artwork”.

 

 

 

Visiting a museum involves more of a conversation between visitor and artwork. Using the VTS method, docents engage visitors. The docent introduction should be brief, then offer a relatable “hook” to help the visitor become more involved in the exhibit. “It’s our job to have the ideas and a list of possible questions to help visitors form their own responses, to interact and make each experience their own.”  Docents ask leading questions to spearhead into another question, such as, “What do you notice? What makes you say that? Who else thinks they see the same thing?”  Followed by, “What does that mean?”, or “Where did that person come from?”, or “Where do you think you could find that information?”  Optimally a docent would like each visitor to have at least three take-away concepts about a work of art.

 

 

 

Jo-Anne Weingarden with Jose Bedia’s “If Only I Could” At the Norton Museum

 

 

 

When a new exhibit is scheduled to be installed at the Norton Museum of Art, docents are offered an “avalanche” of material. They begin preparing for the new exhibit a week to several weeks before it even opens to the public. There’s no examination to pass, however preparation is intense, involving slide shows, written texts, discussions, walk-throughs with the show’s curator, the designer, or someone who is closely involved in the exhibition and knows it well. After reviewing all the documents and materials for the new exhibit, each docent personally creates a tour that maximizes his/her own talents but is not scripted. 

 

 

 

When Jo-Anne begins a tour, she assesses her group. Sometimes she is faced with blank disinterested looks but has always come up with an interesting starter or that “hook”. For example, when kicking off a DIA tour with a group of disinterested teens (arms crossed on their chests), JoAnn would ask, “How many of you have been to an auto show?” Most of the students would raise their hands. The question made them uncross their arms.” Then she would ask, “Did you like going to the auto show? If you do, why?” That would get students talking about the design of the cars, the paint colors, and which cars were more powerful. 

 

 

 

 

Jo-Anne Weingarden with Nick Cave’s “Sound Suit” at the Norton Museum

 

 

One very important thing Jo-Anne learned about working with students older than age 11 is to not single out any one student as a “teacher’s pet” after they give a correct answer. “I pose open-ended questions. I will repeat the answer as a confirmation that this person gave the answer, but I may not even look at them. Beyond fifth grade, students don’t want to be teacher’s pets”.

 

 

When JoAnn works in the portrait section of the museum, she asks visitors to imagine that each portrait is a person they are meeting for the very first time. The portrait subject cannot speak directly to the museum visitor, so the visitor must use their power of observation to connect and learn about the picture. JoAnn asks about attributes such as hair, stature, clothing, fit and style and accessories, as well as the individual’s expression and surroundings. All these clues will give information about the portrait sitter.

 

 

Some of the highlights of Jo-Anne’s docent career occurred when she was least expecting them.

The following stand out in her memory: 

 

  • “I was on my way to do a tour that I really didn’t want to do. All the way driving there I thought, why am I doing this? They were preschoolers, and I thought this is not what I really had in mind when I became a docent. When I got to the museum, the teacher asked me if I had ever worked with “special children” before.

 

 

To me all children are special. I wasn’t exactly sure what she meant, just that the group would be a little smaller and the teacher instructed me to talk to them a little bit differently.”  As Jo-Anne began the tour, the group of preschoolers, teachers, students, and aids all held hands. Jo-Anne held the hand of a little boy who seemed to be shaking. As the group discussed pieces of artwork, the little boy continued to hold her hand. He remained silent, as the other children became engaged.

 

 

Jo-Anne Weingarden with Joan Miro’s “Woman Bird and Star” at the Norton Museum

 

In highlighting a particular Matisse artwork, Jo-Anne asked the same group to take out magic invisible scissors and see if they could cut out the shapes from the paintings. Her young companion holding her hand just looked and half smiled. When she took the group into the German expressionist gallery, she requested the group “…become that sculpture. See if you can pose just like that.” It was then that the little boy let go of her hand, walked over with the other children, and got into a semi-pose. He smiled, then came back to hold her hand. When the tour was over, the little boy’s teacher told Jo-Anne that the boy had never responded to any command or any direction in the entire time that he had been with the school. That was the first time they saw him actively participate. 

 

 

 

Jo-Anne Weingarden with James Chapin’s “Ruby Green Singing” at The Norton Museum

 

 

  • Jo-Anne and her husband enjoy traveling throughout Italy and like to be educated as much as possible before their trips. In Detroit while taking an Italian class, a fellow student, a woman in her 80’s who knew Jo-Anne was a docent at the DIA, invited them to study with her. Eventually the woman mentioned her parents had been patrons of the museum and asked if JoAnn would give her and an out-of-town visitor a personal tour. Jo-Anne was prepared to show her many sections of the museum when the woman surprised Jo-Anne by asking to visit the DIA library. “The DIA library is a fabulous place with sculptural busts all along the aisles between the bookcases and large tables to sit down and study the books and sculptures. As we were walking, the older woman was caressing the sculptures, something not allowed in the museum. I saw the librarian and thought I should let the librarian tell her she can’t touch the sculptures. Imagine my surprise when she introduced me to the bust of her mother!”  

 

Jo-Anne continues to give tours at the Norton. She loves to be asked interesting questions and hear different perspectives about the museum’s art exhibits. 

 

 

 

 

For more information about this interview please contact:

 

Locally, Caren is well-known for her tireless dedication to numerous community projects, including founding the City of Palm Beach Gardens GardensArt program and illustrating the life of George Morikami for the Morikami Museum. Her task force and committee contributions, to name just a few, include the Norton Museum of Art, ArtServe, Armory Art Center, Boys and Girls Club Gators Galore, SunFest, and Palm Beach Community College Campus Art Gallery and founding Artists of Palm Beach County.

 

For more information about Caren’s artwork:

https://yogapainter.com

https://carenhackman.com

https://www.facebook.com/myyogapainter/

 

 

 

For coverage of your events, to place an advertisement, or speak to Rickie about appearing in The Rickie Report, contact:

Rickie Leiter, Publisher

Rickie@therickiereport.com   561-537-0291

17019 SW Sapri Way   Port St. Lucie, FL 34986

 

 

Jane Tracy’s Legacy Raises Awareness Through Art By Supporting Women & Children. Peter Tracy Helps Artists’ Families Honor Loved Ones, Find Closure, And Make The World A Better Place

Artist Jane Tracy left behind hundreds of original paintings.  Her family discovered them in storage shortly after her death and quickly realized the role art could play in raising awareness for those in need.  They donated a significant collection to various organizations to assist in their fundraising efforts. Jane’s husband, Peter, is working to help other families honor their beloved late artists and find closure. He welcomes inquiries from others in a similar situation. The Rickie Report shares a story of gratitude and continued giving.

 

 

 

ORIGINAL      WORKS     by    JANE     TRACY:

 

 

 

RAISING     AWARENESS     THROUGH     ART

 

 

Honoring Late Artist’s Wishes to Support Women & Children

Helping Families with Deceased Artist’s Inventory

 

 

“Around The Playground” by Jane Tracy

 

 

The award winning artist exhibited her paintings, during her lifetime, at a variety of museums and galleries throughout the Northeast and in South Florida. The bold, powerful and vivid abstract art, reflective of the joy that fueled Jane Tracy’s creative process, are now supporting women and children. Led by husband Peter Tracy, The Estate of Artist Jane Tracy strives to honor her memory and her wishes. 

 

“She was a teacher, a prolific artist, and she was passionate about helping women, children and families,” says husband Peter Tracy.  “We couldn’t believe the number of paintings we found in storage.  She left instructions in her will that her work should be donated to help others but it wasn’t easy,” points out Peter.

 

 

“Floating” by Jane Tracy

 

 

He had no precedent and there was no roadmap to guide his mission to fulfill his wife’s wishes. After dozens of phone calls, meetings and hurdles, he identified a few organizations that could benefit from Jane’s paintings and they enthusiastically embraced his offer, ultimately donating more than 400 original abstract paintings.

 

“Jane’s artwork is not just a donation to us, but it’s about making a difference in the children’s lives,” affirms Melissa Vera, Development Manager, Family Resource Center of South Florida, Inc.  “We have successfully featured Jane Tracy’s artwork in our fundraising efforts which support our mission and programs that help children.”

 

 

Peter created the video “Van Gogh & Jane” to raise awareness and promote the sale of her paintings.

 

 

The process was an eye opener for Peter, he wasn’t the only one with inventory from a deceased artist. He plans to share his experience so that others can honor their loved ones and find closure. He has already acquired a domain for deceased artists inventory.  “I’m in the process of a creating a website where family members and non-profits could connect and help each other,” explains Peter.  He welcomes inquiries from others in a similar situation.

 

In the meantime, Jane Tracy’s family is encouraged by the successful fundraising efforts of these organizations and is committed to promoting the concept of supporting those in need through art. 

 

 

“On Good Terms” by Jane Tracy

 

“People love to purchase art at fundraisers to be able to give back to nonprofit organizations while being able to get art for themselves,” says Melissa Vera, Development Manager, Family Resource Center of South Florida, Inc. “We encourage family members of deceased artists who find themselves with inventory to reach out to non-profits and organizations in their communities, just as Peter Tracy did.”

 

“People can make a difference if they want to,” points out Peter Tracy.  “We hope the public will consider purchasing an original painting to help women and children, which was very important to Jane.”

 

To explore original paintings by Jane Tracy and support women and children through her art please go to www.JaneTracyArt.  Stay tuned for the Deceased Artist’s Inventory site currently under construction.

 

 

“Oh So Taxing” by Jane Tracy

 

 

About Jane Tracy

Award winning artist Jane Tracy was a creative force her entire life.  She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Central Michigan University and went on to teach art in Montpelier, VT.  In 1968 she married Peter Tracy and continued her life’s journey as an artist. Her experiences were diverse. She worked in advertising and as a studio potter Jane created functional stoneware that was sold throughout the eastern United States. In 1972 she became a potter-in-residence at the Guilford Art Center in Guilford, CT.  The dynamic and vibrant artist opened Curious Jane’s Restaurant in 1977 with great success through 1981. She even designed the couple’s home in Branford, CT, which was featured in a variety of publications. She launched her career as a painter in 1985; her passion for color, texture and movement apparent in each of the hundreds of abstract paintings she ultimately created. Jane’s art is powerful and vivid, reflective of the joy that fueled her creative process.

Jane divided her time between her homes in South Florida and Connecticut.  She participated in a variety of juried shows and exhibited her work in numerous art centers, galleries and museums throughout South Florida, including the Armory Art Center in 2015 and 2016.

 

Jane was a signature member of the Artists’ Guild of the Boca Raton Museum of Art and the Guilford Art League; a member of the Broward Art Guild, Creative Arts Workshop, Madison Art League, Palm Beach Watercolor Society,  Florida Watercolor Society; New Haven Paint and Clay Club,  International Society of Experimental Artists, WITVA Women in the Visual Arts, International Society of Acrylic Painters, National Association of Women Artists, Connecticut Women Artists and a founding member of the Blue Moon Group.

 

As a lifelong advocate for women’s rights and children, Jane would be thrilled to know her paintings will benefit charitable organizations that serve those in need.

 

Jane’s Artist Statement

Making art is always a challenge. The sensory involvement and visceral stimulation needed  requires a commitment – a commitment to struggle through the process – enjoying the moments of success and triumphing over the ever-present grind of making compositional selections of color, line, value or shape.

 

Non-representational paintings compel me to surrender to my intuition and to trust my inner-urge to experiment. The process of continually making choices and decisions– what to add, what to keep, what to eliminate, what to repeat and ultimately, when to stop–is both  daunting and exhilarating.

 

The thrill of a uniquely textured surface, the contrasting interplay of warm and cool colors, the surprise of unplanned subtleties are some of the factors in my highly personal, solitary painting experiences that inspire me each time I begin a new painting. The knowledge that there will always be another blank surface for me to paint serves as my ultimate inspiration.

 

 

 

“Lunar Expression” by Jane Tracy

 

 

Supporting Women & Children Through Art:

 

You can support the following organizations with the purchase of an original Jane Tracy painting:

Family Resource Center of South Florida – www.frcflorida.org

Armory Art Center – www.armoryart.org

The Women’s Fund Miami-Dade – www.womensfundmiami.org

Additional Links:

 

www.JaneTracyArt.com

https://www.instagram.com/xxjane30xx/

 

Press:

 

https://www.therickiereport.com/2016/01/27/jane-tracy-is-featured-artist-at-boca-raton-library-friends-gallery/

https://emptyeasel.com/2011/10/12/jane-tracy-gloriously-colorful-abstract-paintings/

 

 

 

Media Notes:

To request an interview with Peter Tracy or high resolution images of Jane’s paintings please contact AnaBelle Ramos at anabelle@anabelleramos.com.

Peter Tracy can be contacted at opusmail@gmail.com.

 

 

 

For coverage of your events, to place an advertisement, or speak to Rickie about appearing in The Rickie Report, contact:

Rickie Leiter, Publisher

Rickie@therickiereport.com   561-537-0291

17019 SW Sapri Way   Port St. Lucie, FL 34986

 

 

 

 

Kianga Jianki’s Visual Storytelling Brings Fabric Art To Life. Meet This Vibrant Artist At The Broward Quilt Expo October 23- 24

Kianga Jinaki is a visual storyteller. Her multi-dimensional work reflects her life and African cultural traditions learned through travel and personal study. She creates her own textiles using African cloth by painting, stamping, dying, or sun printing. Over 50% of her work is done by hand.  Kianga will be a vendor at the upcoming Broward Quilt Expo Marketplace on October  23 – 24.  The Rickie Report shares the details and some sneak peeks of Kianga’s creations! Kianga also offers classes and workshops in the area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

601 City Center Way   Pembroke Pines, FL 33025

954.392.9480

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kianga Jinaki’s multi-dimensional fabric art reflects her life and African cultural traditions she learned through travel and personal study. She tells The Rickie Report, “Textiles come with their own stories. I am adding my own voice. I speak with cloth”.

 

 

 

LIFE   IS   IN   THE   STITCHING

 

Kianga shares, “I enjoy creating my own textiles by painting, stamping, dying or sun printing fabric. More than 50% of  the sewing, embellishing, and appliqué seen in my work is done by hand”.

 

 

 

 

“Because so much of my process is self-taught my work has a ‘folk art’ feel to it. I love adding texture and embellishments to create more dimension. Writing prayers and affirmations on cloth or paper, then binding them with thread or wire to a piece adds an element of spirit. My work draws on the folklore, music, poetry, history, spirituality and essence of African people”.

 

 

A    MOMENT    IN    JAZZ

 

“A Moment in Jazz” by Kianga Jinaki

 

 

 

“Born and raised in Baltimore, MD,  I grew up in the 60’s and 70’s immersed in the cultural and civil rights movement of the time. My  years of  reading the works of Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and other cultural icons, gave me an appreciation for my culture and desire to express it through my art”.

 

 

 

Mini Textile portrait by Kianga Jinaki

 

 

“Quilting is a medium with which I continue to grow and explore as I incorporate new methods of storytelling techniques.  I create art quilts, dolls, and mixed media works that tell the story of my heritage as an African-American. My work includes historic and cultural traditions from both America and Africa. Traditional and contemporary African textiles are used in my work. I see my work as contemporary folk art.

 

 

 

Kianga offers a wide variety of quilts, wearable art, and embellishments

 

 

My quilts can address many issues, from violence against Black people in this country, to reminiscing about the 70’s, or represent  Mami Wata an African Goddess, that appears in Dogon cosmology as the mother of creation”.

 

 

“Adowa Returns” by Kianga Jinaki

 

 

“As a child I created collages and my greatest influence was Romare Bearden. When I began to create dolls in the early 90’s I saw them as another form of collage/assemblage. A few years after I began to create dolls I was exposed to the work of quilter Faith Ringgold.  It was her work that enabled me to see quilting as a viable medium to tell the stories of my heart”. 

 

 

Cowry Shells for embellishment 

 

 

“I chose this medium because of my love for African textiles. Years prior to my art career I made my own clothing using Africa textiles. I love the versatility of these textiles, most of them made from cotton, which is easily manipulated, dyed, embellished, sewn, and painted upon. I’m very comfortable telling my stories through cloth”.

 

 

 

Recently, Kianga received The Curators Award for my work in the Exhibition Contemporary Fiber of Florida 2019 at FloridaCraft Art Gallery; Honorable Mention for her art quilt category Juried exhibition at the Broward Quilt Expo 2019 in Ft Lauderdale; An six month exhibition of her work in “Soul Utterings: Creative Works by Kianga Jinaki and John Mascoll”, at Hannibal Square Heritage Center in Winter Park.

 

 

 

Wearable art by Kianga

 

 

For more information about Kianga’s  fabric creations, classes, or workshops:

 

 

kiangaart.com

https://www.instagram.com/kianga_art/

www.facebook.com/KiangaArt/

Email:  Info@kiangaart.com

(561) 503-9504

Monday – Friday: 9 am – 5 pm      Saturday: 10 am – 3 pm

Sunday: Closed

 

 

 

 

For more information: 

Broward Quilt Expo

9421 Belaire Drive     Miramar, FL  33025

(954) 435-9729

pr@browardquiltexpo.com

For coverage of your events, to place an advertisement, or speak to Rickie about appearing in The Rickie Report, contact:

Rickie Leiter, Publisher

Rickie@therickiereport.com   561-537-0291

17019 SW Sapri Way   Port St. Lucie, FL 34986

 

 

 

St. Lucie Cultural Alliance Offers Public Art Workshop With Debby Coles-Dobay On August 3. Free To Members And Open To The Public

Preparing an application for a public art project can be a daunting task. The St. Lucie Cultural Alliance offers a Public Art Workshop with Debby Coles-Dobay on Tuesday, August 3. Learn about the basics of Public Art Programs including tips, best practices, and resources. Reservations are required. This seminar is free to St. Lucie Cultural Alliance members and is open to non-members for a small fee. The Rickie Report shares the details here.  Register soon as space is limited!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

T U E S D A Y,    A U G U S T  3,  2 0 2 1  

10 – 11 AM

 

 

 

Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens

2410 SE Westmoreland Blvd   Port St. Lucie, FL 34952

Phone: 772-337-1959     www.pslbg.org

 

 

This workshop will provide step-by-step instructions and explore best practices to assist you in reviewing and developing a quality response to a Call for Artists (Request for Qualifications or Request for Proposals).

 

This 1-hour session will take place at the Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens, on Tuesday, August 3, 10 – 11 AM, and cover the following:

 

 

  • Basics of Public Art Programs

  • How to prepare a Call-to-artist RFQ

  • What are RFQ and RFP?

  • Tips to become a public artist

  • Public art best practices and resources

 

Intro to Public Art is FREE for Cultural Alliance Members and City of Port St. Lucie residents click here to register: https://bit.ly/3kDbf2c

 

 

 

 and ONLY $25 for all other artists:  https://bit.ly/3xfYwpz

St. Lucie Cultural Alliance is on a mission!The organization is determined to empower its artists to achieve their highest potential.And nothing is going to stop them.  On August 3, the Cultural Alliance will present another powerful professional development workshop:Introduction to Public Art. Presented in partnership with the City of Port St. Lucie Public Arts, the workshop will address critical components of successfully responding to a call to artists.

 

 

Pattie Tobin  Long Range Planning Administrator for Port St. Lucie

 

 

“I would encourage all local artists to take advantage of this workshop,” said Pattie Tobin, Long Range Planning Administrator for Port St. Lucie, and who manages Public Art for the city. “It will help them prepare for any call to artists that local governments, like Port St. Lucie, will send out to solicit public art.The responses to our call to artists in the past have included some great entries and some not-so-great entries.It’s important to have a thorough and responsive application to get your art selected.”

 

 

Debby Coles-Dobay

 

The workshop is sponsored in part by the City of Port St. Lucie to educate and encourage local artists to apply and be selected. “One of the main priorities for St. Lucie Cultural Alliance is to empower our members with useful tools to be successful,” said Alyona Ushe, Cultural Alliance’s Executive Director.“For Intro To Public Art,” we engaged one of the region’s top public art professional, Debby Coles-Dobay.”

 

 

 

As founder of Art Moves You, Debby Coles-Dobay applies her professional skills to create and cultivate public art projects, exhibits, and programs in the Arts & Culture sector. Debby served 13 years as a public art professional for the City of Boynton Beach. During that time, she realized over 80 public art projects, created and implemented the biennial International Kinetic Art Exhibit. Before public art, Debby’s career included marketing and advertising for international corporations, as well as her own company. To learn more about Debby and her company visit Art Moves You.

 

For more information about anything mentioned in this article, new initiatives you would like to propose, or to make a comment:

 

artstlucie.org

St. Lucie Cultural Alliance 

2300 Virginia Avenue, Fort Pierce, FL 34982

 (772) 462-2783

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For coverage of your events, to place an advertisement, or speak to Rickie about appearing in The Rickie Report, contact:

Rickie Leiter, Publisher

Rickie@therickiereport.com   561-537-0291

17019 SW Sapri Way   Port St. Lucie, FL 34986

 

Art & The Blockchain Is A Reality: One Third Of Small And Medium Sized Businesses Now Take Cryptocurrency As Payment. What You Need To Know!

Blockchain is affecting the art industry, small business, and our lives in general. How will it change the way artists, galleries, and art buyers do business?  Here’s what artists and art buyers should know about this evolving technology. The Rickie Report shares an informative article about Art & Blockchain, written by Carolyn Edlund of Artsyshark.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ART     &     THE      BLOCKCHAIN

 

 

Art as NFTs and the rise of the crypto art market have been all over the news lately. Headlines scream about artists earning veritable fortunes overnight, while others warn about energy usage. Some artists are clamoring to get involved with this hot new market. Others are vehemently opposed.  What is the future of NFTs and the blockchain technology behind them? I spoke with two experts to get answers and dive into big changes coming to the industry.

 

 

Why Blockchain Matters

 

 

Blockchain is a “trustless” protocol that records transactions through a transparent, verifiable ledger system which cannot be altered. The entire cryptocurrency market and a myriad of virtual tools and projects are built on blockchain platforms that provide fast, accurate and safe functionality.

 

Importantly, blockchain is a decentralized system which is disrupting the status quo. It tends to increase fairness and stability, and take power out of the hands of a small group of decision makers. In this way, blockchain mirrors the art industry itself, which has fractured and placed more control in the hands of self-determining individual artists.

 

To get to the heart of the enormous impact this will have in our everyday lives, I spoke with Shidan Gouran. He is an early blockchain investor and a serial technology entrepreneur holding degrees in Pure Mathematics and Theoretical Physics from the University of Western Ontario. Gouran is the founder of Gulf Pearl, a Canadian merchant bank focused on “financing both private and junior public companies in the information, communications and media sectors.

“Blockchain is now mainstream,” Gouran says. “Technologies come and go, and better technologies will come. The concept of universal databases that anybody can read and write to and that cannot be manipulated are very useful. Digital assets are here to stay. It just makes sense that things would move from paper to the digital world. Tracking and provenance of real world objects on the internet will become more and more common. Those are the realities.”

 

How prevalent is blockchain in our society? One-third of small and medium-sized businesses now take cryptocurrency as payment. Bitcoin can be purchased using Paypal. Mastercard, Visa, and American Express are all embracing blockchain technology. It is transforming the banking and “financial industries, and is the “digital DNA” of the internet 3.0.

 

 

The Question of Energy Consumption

 

 

Blockchain is undergoing rapid evolution and improvement. Detractors cite as a major concern the high energy usage in the “mining” process that drives transactions. Bitcoin is often held up as a major example of this excess.  “Bitcoin was the “first prototype; it is not the last system in existence,” explains Gouran. “Right now it consumes more energy than the Netherlands. Each transaction burns more than 700,000 Visa transactions as far as energy goes. When you consider these things, Bitcoin is not a great system. In my opinion, if it became the world’s currency it would be highly immoral, because of the energy consumption.”

 

 

How will this problem be overcome? Bitcoin operates on a Proof of Work mechanism which is energy ineficient. The Ethereum blockchain (which powers NFTs) and other platforms are moving to Proof of Stake, which is much less energy consumptive.  Gouran adds, “There are systems like Stellar and Ripple and when released,Facebook’s Diem blockchain, which would use even less energy than Ethereum’s Proof of Stake. A transaction on the Diem blockchain doesn’t cost more than a Visa transaction.”

 

 

Think of super efficient systems underlying the technology of finance and business that remove the need for offices full of workers using energy to validate and push through transactions. What are the energy savings when you don’t have to power 100,000 square foot buildings using light and heat and computers for hundreds of workers because they aren’t needed, all due to blockchain efficiency? We could end up with an actual decrease in energy usage.

 

 

 

 

 

Art as NFTs

 

 

NFTs (art sold as non-fungible tokens) have captured the imagination of the world and produced record-breaking sales. I asked art advisor, curator and crypto expert Georg Bak about this phenomenon. He says, “NFTs are certainly not just a trend. I believe that this market has a huge growth potential, not only for art but also for any kind of collectibles in the game, fashion and sport industry. At the moment the market is a bit overheated and many buyers are only buying NFTs in order to flip them instantaneously and make profits. I believe we will see a correction towards a more consolidated and matured market. There are so many historical digital artworks which never had a market and can be discovered by a wider public.”

 

 

What does this mean for the individual artist?  Selling platforms are cropping up like wildfire, offering an opportunity to artists who want to enter the crypto art market. Over time it will shake out and mature, and providers will address some of the existing technical limitations. Right now the sky is the limit. Once we have some history in the rearview mirror, the road will become clearer.

 

Benefits of New Tech

 

 

New technologies built on blockchain and the “smart contracts” they enforce and offer a level of transparency to an often opaque art world. This is good news for artists who create both digital and physical artworks, which can be embedded and tracked.

 

Bak says, “Blockchain technology will certainly not solve the authenticity and provenance issues of the past, but it can have a strong impact on future transactions. Nevertheless the data on the blockchain is only valuable if the physical artwork can be identified and assigned clearly to the data. There are different methods to apply identifiers such as for example RFID chips or surface scanning technologies.”

 

Once embraced, chips and scanning methods can assure the authenticity, scarcity and provenance of an individual piece of art. Artists will also use blockchain technology to track inventories, collectors, shipping and sales transactions. Another huge benefit of smart contracts is automatic payment of royalties to artists when secondary sales of their work are made.

 

 

Power to the Artists

 

As decentralization continues to put more control into the hands of individual artists, they are no longer in thrall to gatekeepers or third parties. How will our industry evolve as the power centers change?

 

 

“Galleries are certainly losing their monopoly over the market as artists can reach out to collectors directly,” says Bak. “The new gatekeepers are online marketplaces, and power is shifting from galleries to platforms. Even though platforms provide an interesting new revenue stream for artists, they don’t necessarily provide the same extent of curatorial exposure and content for artists as gallerists did in the past. Quite often platforms select artists according to purely mathematical measures, such as the number of followers on Instagram. Therefore, I think that galleries or artist managers are still playing an important role in promoting the artist’s career but probably they have to reinvent their business model.”

 

 

 

Want to stay current on cutting edge business articles from Artsy Shark, plus artist features, and an invitation to the next Call for Artists? Subscribe to twice-monthly Updates, and get a free e-book on Where to Sell Art Online right now!

Carolyn Edlund:  410.977.2915

Carolyn@ArtsyShark.com

www.ArtsyShark.com

 

 

 

For coverage of your events, to place an advertisement, or speak to Rickie about appearing in The Rickie Report, contact:

Rickie Leiter, Publisher

Rickie@therickiereport.com   561-537-0291

17019 SW Sapri Way   Port St. Lucie, FL 34986

 

 

What Is Crypto Art And How Does It Work? What Effect Will This Have On Consumers Beyond The Art World?

A mega emerging marketplace has opened for artists to sell digital art online.  How does it work? What are NFTs and what does Blockchain have to do with art, music, and collectibles? How does this change artists relationships with brick and mortar galleries?  This is already producing ripples in cross-over industries. The Rickie Report shares an informative article about Crypto Art, written by Carolyn Edlund of Artsyshark.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carolyn Edlund Graham

 

 

WHAT     IS     CRYPTO     ART?

 

 

 

Crypto Art is a new market for digital artworks traded securely with blockchain technology. It’s often sold through online platforms using cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin or Ethereum. Artworks are paired in the crypto space with “non-fungible tokens” (NFTs) which authenticate each work as scarce and unique.

 

Blockchain technology is a decentralized, trustless system that provides transparent, verifiable documentation for the artist as creator and for collectors as the owners of the art, and shows provenance over time as a permanent record. It is even being used to authenticate and track physical artwork as a way to reduce fraud and increase consumer confidence. But the application of this technology actually has a vast number of uses, including financial services, security and privacy, legal applications and more.

 

 

“Rebirth of the Yesterbeasts” by Marc-O-Matic, sold for 3.75eth ($3,105) on Makers Place

 

 

 

Where does the Crypto Art market exist?  New online marketplaces such as SuperRare, Rarible, Open Sea and others have cropped up that allow digital artists to display and sell through auction or outright sale. NFTs are not always art; they can take the form of music, collectibles, and even digital real estate. This hot market has recently produced astonishing headlines and gained lots of interest from collectors, investors and others.

 

 

Marc-O-Matic is an artist based in Melbourne, Australia who entered the Crypto Art market during the last year and found it to be tremendously profitable. Marc describes his art as a compilation of illustration, Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR), designed to provide an immersive technology experience.

 

“Augmented Reality allows you to create an intersection between art and digital,” he says. “I fuse traditional skills with AR to present art in different engaging ways by repurposing illustrative work and augmenting it to become an experiential and engaging way to view art.”

 

 

In the immersive environment (which may be a gallery or other space) artwork is viewed through mobile phones or tablets to access the AR housed in an app he developed. The physical work acts as a QR code that triggers the animation. In the video below, Marc-O-Matic explains his work, while using AR to produce animation that mimics his facial gestures.

 

 

 

 

“The Inquisitive Hermit Crab”, by Marc-O-Matic sold for 14eth ($5,151) on SuperRare

 

 

 

His work is sold on several online platforms including SuperRare, a platform on the Ethereum blockchain which has a curatorial selection process (and a high volume of artists applying). Artists submit images and a video of their work for approval. Each sale made on SuperRare involves a 15% commission plus a charge to pay the “gas” fee charged when spending Ethereum. The artist will be paid again if and when a secondary sale is made, with 10% of the price going directly to them automatically through the blockchain—with no middle man involved.

 

 

Marc-O-Matic notes that digital art isn’t the only thing you can sell on the blockchain; you can sell physical art as well. “I’ve recently created physical painted prints,” he says. “Each artwork has a wax seal signature, embedded with NFT chips behind that seal that contain information about the art, its origin and more. When scanned, it leads to a website that shows records of the transactions of the physical art and its history of ownership. You can essentially embed NFT chips in your own artwork to authenticate ownership and value.”

 

 

That is part of the appeal of the blockchain, which eliminates the “smoke and mirrors” that can sometimes happen with brick and mortar gallery sales where artists don’t know who has purchased their work. The technology is transparent on ownership, allowing artists to benefit from royalties on their own work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“The Original Oculus” by Marc-O-Matic, sold for 4.4 eth ($7,103) on SuperRare 

 

 

 

 

When art as an NFT can be freely shared online, how does that affect the rights of creator and owner? Marc-O-Matic explains, “If you make a sale, the collector cannot redistribute or reproduce the work in any way, including physical copies. The artist cannot either. It’s a 1 of 1 edition. Doing so would defeat the purpose anyway, since the reasoning behind NFTs is artificial scarcity. The artist could, however, share 3D animations through social media and online, so long as they do not sell it again. And, as digital artwork that has been sold gets proliferated online and becomes popular, it actually adds value to the work. The more people who see it, the higher the perceived value.”

 

 

Why do people collect NFTs? “Everyone has their own drive when collecting,” says the artist. “Some like to buy art at a lower price, and flip it later, so that it pays off as an investment. Others are genuine collectors who see the value of digital assets. They understand that as we dive deeper into a digital world with immersive tech, having NFTs in place offers them importance as owners.”

 

Commissions are also a huge part of this space, as awareness of the investment value of digital collectibles increases. Companies are having NFTs made specifically for them that support their brand. The NBA recently dropped a series of collectible packs of player trading cards that has exploded in popularity. This opportunity to monetize is crossing industries and will increase in the foreseeable future.

 

 

 

CLICK  HERE   TO  LISTEN:

 

 

 

 

NFTs may have other functions included within them, above and beyond just the art. There are multiple uses, such as unlocking another world inside of a piece of art. Marc-O-Matic poses a potential use, saying “An emerging musician can create tracks with interactive visuals. Imagine purchasing a track of music as an NFT that includes an embedded interview with the artist or something else special. That may be originally purchased for $50.00 but could be worth thousands of dollars when they are famous.”

 

If an artist wanted to get involved in the Crypto Art market, how would they begin? He lays out several steps. “First, do your research in order to understand this new world, how it works, and what the value is. I recommend an article titled The NFT Bible published by Open Sea. It offers a breakdown of the history of tokens, the reasoning behind them, and what makes them so unique and special.”

 

 

The next step is to get set up. “You will need a crypto wallet, which is where you store your currencies, and how you conduct transactions,” he says. “It also is a key to unlock your account on certain platforms. So if I was going to sell a work on SuperRare, I need a wallet to unlock my account. Each wallet has a unique address, and I would use that address to distribute art on that platform. Metamask is one of the more popular wallets to use.”

 

 

Artists who want to sell would also need to acquire cryptocurrency in the form of Ethereum. This allows you to pay gas fees to process and validate transactions, and also to receive payment in the currency, to be held in your cryptocurrency wallet.

 

 

In order to find a platform to list your NFTs, you will need to evaluate those options. Some are curated, requiring a submission process and subsequent approval. Others (such as Rarible and Open Sea) do not. Then, upload your art and start trading!

 

 

 

 

Want to stay current on cutting edge business articles from Artsy Shark, plus artist features, and an invitation to the next Call for Artists? Subscribe to twice-monthly Updates, and get a free e-book on Where to Sell Art Online right now!

Carolyn Edlund:  410.977.2915

Carolyn@ArtsyShark.com

www.ArtsyShark.com

 

 

 

For coverage of your events, to place an advertisement, or speak to Rickie about appearing in The Rickie Report, contact:

Rickie Leiter, Publisher

Rickie@therickiereport.com   561-537-0291

17019 SW Sapri Way   Port St. Lucie, FL 34986

 

 

Arts Foundation For Martin County Seeks Nominations For The mARTies Awards 2021

The Arts Foundation for Martin County invites you to nominate an ARTIST or STUDENT ARTIST in the visual, performing, or literary arts for a mARTies Award!   The mARTies Awards are a signature event of the Arts Foundation for Martin County honoring outstanding artistic, voluntary, and philanthropic achievement in Martin County which inspire a passion for and participation in the arts in our community.  It takes a mix of artists, philanthropists, volunteers, and leaders weaving together to give the community a more vibrant, rich, and colorful texture.  Over 140 award recipients have been honored since 2003! The Rickie Report shares the details, some sneak peeks from last year and the information you need to make a nomination.  Deadline  for nominations is November 1, 2020.  SAVE THE DATE: mARTies Celebration takes place March 24, 2021.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2019 mARTies Nominated and Named Award Winners

 

 

Nominees are judged for several qualities, by professional artists and knowledgeable community leaders, to include their participation in the arts and artistic excellence; their civic responsibilities; and their leadership in improving the quality of life in Martin County.  Adult nominees must either be a Martin County resident or do the majority of their artistic work in the Martin County area.  Student nominees must be a Martin County resident and have entered their senior year of high school in August 2020.

 

 

 

2019 mARTies Opening Performance at the Lyric Theater

 

 

 

Nominating is easy and only requires contact information and a 150-word paragraph about your nominee!

Nominations are being accepted through November 1, 2020

 

 

https://www.martinarts.org/arts-foundation/news_events/marties-awards/marties-nomination.html

 

 

The 2019 Named Award Recipients:

Lifetime Achievement in the Arts – Guy Coheleach
Philanthropy in the Arts – Jerome and Phyllis Rappaport
Corporate Leadership in the Arts – PNC Bank for the Arts Alive! program
Excellence in Arts Education – Cindy Kessler
Arts Leadership – Karen L. Barnes
Arts Service – Mary Ann Loomis
Special Recognition – Martin County High School Visual Arts Teachers Amanda Jones and Bryan Johnson and business owner Kim Jones for the Martin County Historical mural at the Prescription Shoppe in downtown Stuart

 

 

 

 Guy Coheleach, Lifetime Achievement in the Arts recipient (left) with  Neil Capozzi

 

 

The Special Recognition Award went to MCHS Visual Arts Team and Kim Jones, owner of thePrescription Shoppe in downtown Stuart. Pictured are MCHS Team member Bryan Johnson; Nancy Turrell, executive director of the Arts Council of MC; MCHS Team member Amanda Jones; Kim Jones and Marney McKee, mARTies 2019 co-chair.

 

2019 mARTies Award Recipients:

 

Adult Literary:  Betty Jo Buro

Adult Performing: Tasha Shirley

Adult Visual: Suzanne Connors

Student Performing Music: Brandon Gunter

Student Performing Theater: Eliza Levy

Student Visual: Isabella Gallese

 

 

Adult VisualArts Award recipient Suzanne Connors and Lisa Renee Ludlum

 

 

Student Visual Award Recipient Isabella Gallese and Marney McKee

 

Opportunities to help us celebrate the mARTies are available for sponsors and volunteers. Please contact the Arts Foundation for Martin County if you are interested in being a part of the event.  And save the date for the mARTies Awards to be held on Wednesday, March 24, 2021.

 

 

Contact us at (772) 287-6676 or info@martinarts.org today!

 

 

 

 

For coverage of your events, to place an advertisement, or speak to Rickie about appearing in The Rickie Report, contact:

Rickie Leiter, Publisher

Rickie@therickiereport.com   561-537-0291

17019 SW Sapri Way   Port St. Lucie, FL 34986

 

Using Zoom To Your Best Advantage And Some Pitfalls To Avoid

The Rickie Report shares some helpful hints to make a Zoom experience more productive for you and your fellow ‘Zoomers’.  If you’re not familiar with Zoom as a face-to-face meeting platform in current time, you’ll need to get up to speed (pun intended).  This easy-to-use app allows you to collaborate with others for work as well as celebrate events with others who are far flung.  The Rickie Report shares some blips we’ve experienced as well as technical tips.

 

 

 

 

Using Zoom

To Enhance Communications For

Artists, Arts Organizations, Art Patrons, Anyone

 

Photo Courtesy of Anna Shvets

 

 

 

Think of a Zoom meeting like being face-to-face

Eliminate distractions and focus on the agenda.

 

 

Download the free Zoom app days before your scheduled meeting.

 

If you are a newbie, make sure you familiar/comfortable using the features (mute/unmute, start/stop video, screen share, raise your hand).

 

Join the Zoom session early – up to 5 minutes before the meeting start time.

 

Notifications from messaging applications, ringtones, and applications running on your desktop can be distracting, which can make your attendees feel disrespected and undervalued. Mitigating these distractions helps keep the meeting focused and free from interruption.

 

Zoom amplifies everything!  From smiles to frowns, from inescapable noises to your behavior.

Be aware!

If you are the host, offer an agenda with the Zoom invitation

(Attendees – be prepared)

Make sure to introduce everyone at the beginning.

 

Just like an in-person meeting or social event, you would initiate a conversation between two acquaintances who haven’t met by introducing them. The same principle applies to a virtual meeting. Be sure to introduce all parties you are hosting at the beginning to create a welcoming environment and stimulate engagement toward a common goal.

 

Photo Courtesy of Ivan Samkov

 

 

 

 

Show Up At Your Best (Meeting Etiquette)

 

There are some general rules of courtesy for virtual (and in person) business meetings.

Be ready – just as if this meeting was taking place in person!

Wear appropriate clothing ( PJ’s are not OK unless this is a Zoom PJ Party).

Loud clothing or sparkling accessories will distract from the message you’re sharing during the Zoom session.

No Nudity ( Did I really have to say that ??  From experience, yes…yes, I did!)

Background

 

Photo Courtesy of Harry Page

 

 

You want everyone’s focus to be on the meeting content.  Have a clean setting with work-appropriate art and decorations to reduce the chance that attendees will get distracted.  Your surroundings say a lot about you and you want to make a good impression, just as if you were hosting at your home!  Showing dirty clothes in a pile and an unmade bed make people wonder if you can be professional and trusted with serious work.

 

Clean up and have a simple background (a plain wall, a potted plant, or a bookshelf works perfectly, a wall filled with artwork).Zoom also provides virtual backgrounds to help you avoid the most cluttered environments.

Some people change their background with a photo.  Zoom’s virtual background feature is an easy way to eliminate background distractions when you have to meet in a messy or busy location.

A few words of caution about virtual backgrounds:

Avoid bright colors which distract from your face

Avoid video beach scenes with waves that actually move, which make some people nauseous.

 

Photo Courtesy of Steve Johnson

 

Lights, camera, action! Note, the first item here is about LIGHTING. Position yourself so that most of the light is coming from in front of you (behind your monitor), instead of behind you. If you have a window behind you, shut the blinds. Otherwise, you will be backlit.

Volume/Mute  &  Audio/Video

Photo Courtesy of Pressmaster

 

Video is crucial in building trust and engagement in virtual communications.

Test your video and audio before your meeting at zoom.us/test.

 

 

 Look into the camera when talking instead of looking at yourself.

 

If you’re looking at yourself on the screen while you’re talking, it will seem like you are distracted.  Direct eye contact into the camera while speaking gives attendees the impression that you are looking at them rather than off to the side, which creates an environment where everyone feels engaged and involved in the current conversation.

 

Be sure to position your web camera and monitor at eye level so you can look into the camera and simulate that eye-to-eye connection with other attendees.

 

 

 

 

Photo Courtesy of Julia M Cameron

 

Before you go into the Zoom meeting, notice where your screen is placed.

Especially take note of the angle of your laptop screen if using the built-in camera.

If you place your iPad on the table, with you looking down at it, please note: No one wants to look up into your nostrils.

We also don’t want to see your ceiling!

Even when your screen is in a separate room from other people, remember that if your door is open and the screen is at the proper angle, we should not be able to see anyone leaving the bathroom wrapped in a towel.

Have your video on unless you are experiencing technical issues.

Find a quiet space without interruptions or background noise.

Mute your microphone when not talking.

Avoid talking over or at the same time as other participants.

Keep your hands down, away from your face and mouth. Not only is this distracting, but it muffles your voice when you want to speak.

Behavior

 

Photo Courtesy of Juan Pablo Serrano Arenas

 

Be aware that you are on camera and try to avoid doing other tasks, checking emails, looking at your phone.

Please mute yourself  (I would say “Stifle yourself, Edith”, but many of you will not get the reference to “All In The Family”) so we don’t hear your phone ring, dog bark, or kids scream.

Please refrain from having a side conversation with someone in the actual room with you.

If you are using Zoom in a more casual setting, please be aware of your body language and how you sit.

If you decide to play Candy Crush while watching the Zoom meeting, please block your video. (I got dizzy yesterday from watching you move your thumbs and a bit annoyed that you were not paying attention).

If you can, avoid eating meals during your meeting. Imagine how unappealing it would be to watch someone up close slurping a plate of spaghetti on a big screen. If you can, wait until your meeting is over.

 

 

Stay or Leave

Photo Courtesy of Bongkarn Thanyakij

Leaving the frame without explaining why

 

If you need to get up from a meeting for any reason ( bathroom break, get a drink, or focus on a child or pets), be courteous, just as you would be in an in-person situation.  Leave a message in the chat option to indicate you will be back and have not left the meeting.

Turn off your video camera until you return

Turn off your volume until you return

Recording

 

 

 

Photo courtesy of 500photos.com

 

 

Often, meetings are recorded. In this case, your words and your actions. Just be aware that even though you may be sitting in your home or personal space, you are participating in a somewhat public event.

Refrain from private behavior (picking at your toes, scratching your armpits, picking your nose) (Again, I mention these specific behaviors because I have observed them in other Zoom meetings).

What you say, how you react, how to look will be saved for posterity!

 

 

Chat Room

 

Even though there is a “chat” function, please keep comments to a minimum.

It is distracting for others in the meeting and just as rude as if you were face-to-face and interrupting the speaker.

 

The host leaves last

 

 

Photo Courtesy of Matilda Wormwood

As hosts to any meeting or party, we usually stay until everyone else leaves.  Zoom is no different.  Attendees may use this time to socialize or get a few words in before the session ends. For stragglers, you may have to remind them that the session is about to end.

 

 

 

 

For more information about Zoom:   zoom.us

Google articles about Zoom – they abound on the internet

 

 

For coverage of your events, to place an advertisement, or speak to Rickie about appearing in The Rickie Report, contact:

Rickie Leiter, Publisher

Rickie@therickiereport.com   561-537-0291

17019 SW Sapri Way   Port St. Lucie, FL 34986