By Shaun McKenna
The phone slams down and the panic sets in. The boss is coming to your house for dinner on the weekend. Food is under control, the chicken primavera is sure to impress, but how can you make an impression with the house?
The answer: rent a few works of art, and delightful dinner conversation is sure to follow.
Renting out your own mini-exhibition won’t make you the cultural envy of the neighbourhood, but it could add a welcome change to your home.
Art Lending of Ottawa will be holding its monthly exhibition at the Unitarian Church Hall on Cleary Avenue, Feb. 14 to 15. The non-profit organization is currently celebrating its 30th anniversary.
Businesses, embassies, and private citizens make up the group of art collectors that think change is as important as artistic expression.
Indeed, another attractive element to renting art is price. Some pieces at the exhibition will be rented for a mere $10 per month.
Hope Hadwen is with Art Lending of Ottawa. She looks forward to renting different works to display around her own house each month.
“People like to change clothes,” says Hadwen. “It’s nice to try (new works) out, and people can always afford to rent.”
Collecting art doesn’t have to be a hobby belonging to the domain of those with higher incomes. The notion of elite groups of wealthy collectors is no longer. By making it more affordable, the hobby can attain a broader audience.
The potential for a newer, broader audience is beneficial to local artists. Hadwen says that new artists are always welcome, especially if they bring something original to the exhibition.
The organization recently added 10 new artists to its roster, bringing the total to 85. While some of those contributing pieces are out-of-towners, most of the artists are local.
They volunteer with the organization by aiding in promotion and set up. Profits from the art go towards renting the exhibition space.
Renting art is an affordable way to learn about different styles, mediums, and artists. The process diversifies the fun of collecting art, allowing the collector to sample different works.
You can, of course, purchase the art if it looks really good over the mantle. Not only can you gain from broader exposure to forms of art, but the boss is sure to be impressed too.