By Karen MacKinnon
Gallery 101, an artist-run gallery in Centretown, will kick off celebrations for its 20th anniversary this Saturday with its annual silent auction that brings together art and community spirit.
Local framing shops donate over 101 frames and artists lend their talent.
“It’s important to keep artist-run centres open in the area,” says Louise Levergneux, an artist in the show. “They show art for the art’s sake, not for the money.”
Levergneux says most commercial galleries take a percentage from the art show and don’t pay the artists.
“Artists are at their mercy,” she says.
Levergneux has been donating to artist-run centres for over 10 years because they treat the artists more like professionals than commercial galleries do.
To show her support for Gallery 101, Levergneux is submitting a light box to the auction. “A light box is a picture superimposed on another picture,” she says.
The pictures act like slides, which can only be seen when light is shone behind then.
When the light shines through all the pictures, they appear as one. “My light box represents a series of nine self-portraits.”
“Last year, we raised $10,000 and are hoping for more on Saturday,” says Jen Budney, assistant director at Gallery 101. “This event finances a substantial part of the gallery’s activities throughout the year.
It also covers a number of exhibitions and helps pay the artists.”
The rest of the gallery’s funds are provided mainly by government grants. Also, Gallery 101 plans to run special exhibits in honour of its 20th anniversary next year.
“The turnout at the auction is often a sign that the community values the space at Gallery 101,” she says.
Norman Lester, owner of Frames by Rockwell on Bank Street, spent a little over a week piecing together 62 frames from extra materials gathered over the year for Gallery 101.
“I’m getting to see a lot of new, as well as experienced, artists and it’s a good cause,” says Lester.
He says this is why he donated so much extra time.
“We keep a box aside for Gallery 101 and fill it with extra frames during the year,” says Cristine Murphy, manager of Bank Street Framing.
“Not many other galleries are as good at supporting the arts as Gallery 101. We wouldn’t want it to close.”
Murphy is also an artist and will submit a piece for the auction.
She’s making a 3-D shadow box using one of her store’s frames.
The box is built behind the frame and Murphy plans to fill it with plastic insects wearing clothes.
“I’m trying to be funny,” she says.
“I’m also going to add captions to show what the insects are thinking and what is happening on another level.”
Last year, over 200 people attended Gallery 101’s auction and bid on works by over 100 artists.
As in previous years, the auction features a wide range of styles, from traditional paintings to nail art to shadow boxes.