Art and Community: Monthly Gallery Walks as a Decentralized Project
This past Saturday was "Art Walk" here in our home town.
Art Walks-- sometimes called "Gallery Night," or "First Saturdays" or something similar-- are a common fixture in many towns and cities around the world.
Promoting Art Through Cooperation
"Cephalopod in Green" by Raquel Stokes
The basic idea behind "Art Walks" is to promote art and artists, which is done through galleries and other art spaces in a town or area agreeing to launch new exhibits and stay open late on a specified day of the month. Having a number of art venues open at the same time encourages the public to come out and have a look-- since such an outing is now "more worthwhile" than-- for example-- going to an "art opening" at a single gallery.
Typically, when you have "events," some kind of steering committee and organization comes to mind-- somebody has to be "in charge" and make arrangements and "collect fees," spread the news and so forth. Many people have been trained to believe the outcome will be "chaos" if people are left to figure things out on their own.
Since Steemit is a celebration of decentralization, I wanted to share how the "Art Walk" here in our town exists as a completely voluntary decentralized structure.
Read on!
A Decentralized Gallery Walk Night
"Peacock Woman" collage by Raquel Stokes
Gallery Walks in our town have been going on for many years. We're regionally known as an "Arts Community" and there are at least 15 art galleries here in close proximity, as well as a number of cafés and hotel lobbies that show art for sale on a rotating basis.
It is uncertain exactly how the first "Art Walk" came about here, but a couple of "old timers" I have spoken to point to a couple of gallery proprietors in the 1980's deciding there needed to be a more cohesive effort to promote art here.
Rather than try to create an "event," they simply went to other galleries and art spaces and let it be known that they were "experimenting with" launching new exhibits and staying open late one night of each month. At first it was first Thursdays, subsequently it was changed to first Saturdays to be more accommodating of people's work schedules.
There were no contracts, no agreements... simply a statement "We're trying this, and invite you to do the same." Completely voluntary.
Getting Local Newspapers Involved
"Abandon Sheep" photo collage by Raquel Stokes
They went to our two local weekly newspapers and gently "suggested" that there would be a good opportunity to sell advertising space to art galleries "if perhaps the art related ads were grouped together, and there were to be some editorial coverage of these new art exhibits opening up at the same time." The idea was sold as an "opportunity" rather than a "request" for anything... which works, since most businesses like the idea of making more money.
The newspapers saw this as an opportunity, indeed, and got onboard with the program. The fact that both papers created a special advertising section with reduced rates for art galleries only helped "anchor" these art evenings. Instead of needing an art walk "manager" to remind galleries, the eager ad sales reps from the newspaper now serve the reminders every month to potential participants.
Again, this all happened-- and continues to happen, every month-- without "leadership" and on a completely voluntary basis. There are no "membership fees" and no contracts; the monthly events are 100% self-guiding. Some art spaces are stalwart monthly participants, some are sporadic, and some are "once-a-year" participants. But somehow the format works!
If you live in a town that has good art for sale, but does not currently have a "Gallery Night," consider starting one-- using this type of voluntary format as a guide! It is low cost and uncomplicated, yet can be quite effective.
Thank you for reading! Red Dragonfly is a proud member of the @sndbox creative initiative.
The Red Dragonfly is an independent alternative art gallery located in Port Townsend, WA; showcasing edgy and unique contemporary art & handmade crafts by local and worldwide artists. All images are our own, unless otherwise credited. Where applicable, artist images used with permission.
Cool, we have a first friday here in Raleigh but I haven't gotten to visit yet. Might have to check it out after your glowing recommendation of the concept.
The way that an entire night of art galleries can emerge without a central organizer is pretty radical... I wonder what other kind of activities can happen this way.
It's one of those things I'm interested in exploring-- and what makes me excited about something like the @sndbox incubator.
You work in the music field-- how can something similar be applied? A self-organizing (to some degree) music festival? A market for musicians ("band seeks experienced drummer...")? There are lots of ways we benefit from working together, cooperating without having to be inside the confines of a "club" or "association."
At the moment I am working with a small team to organize a steem-powered music venue - it's not focused on the voluntaryist aspect so much, but absolutely an experiment in how blockchain can lead to positive activity within a community.
There's a lot to explore and this is just the beginning.. the coming decade holds many exciting secrets about the potential of blockchain.
I too wonder what else we - in each of our own locales - can harness the decentralized concept including maybe SMTs as well. My thinking has expanded HUGELY since I joined Steemit, and I'm curious how to use these ideas more specifically in my everyday life and work locally.
nice event!
we have just a couple of galleries here, so no way :)
Maybe in time it can come, perhaps in collaboration with an art exhibition/show.
Great! The "Art walk" looks a very great project and a nice way to meet art and artists! Here in my town there's nothing similar, but I hope in the future. Collaboration is an important value. :D Thanks to share it with us! ^_^
Collaboration is very important. With artists, it can be tricky because there are "egos" involved and people might be afraid of competition... but it is really one of those things where "many" is far better than one... it has a bigger impact and reaches more from the general art collecting public.
They have art walks here in Tulsa, it's a nice way to connect and enjoy art and artists.
And it's a good way to make people in general more interested in art... they are more likely to go out for the evening if they can visit 10 galleries, as opposed to just going to a single "opening."
The octopus pic brought me here. I stayed for the article. Thanks.
Raquel is one of our very talented artists... we often feature items from the gallery in our Steemit posts. Stay tuned!
I really like the octopus painting!
Wow. Those are some fantastic arts ! I am looking forward to seeing more. Followed, upvoted.
Thank you!
As promissed, some support from @livelifefullest
Great writing my friend and the "Art Work" I am impressed ;))
I REALLY like the idea of groups and happenings that don't require organizations to be formed or lots of logicistics! I've heard that Portland was the initiator of the "first thursday" gallery walk but who knows. In any case, gallery walks, open studios are very popular here and we have them in almost all art related neighborhoods. It's definitely helped to give people an incentive to get out and look at some art. It makes a big difference to know when it's happening each month without having to research and verify etc...