Miami around the Wynwood Walls

During the holidays, the whole family got into the car and we decided to take a road trip to Miami. It was a pleasant drive and very relaxing, when we got there we enjoyed the weather and the beach, what was more exiting was to discover the growing art scene around the design district. Especially the Wynwood Walls, they were totally beautiful and inspiring. The best part was that the whole neighborhood was covered in graffiti, beautiful ones (like the one in the picture) and it made me realize even more the power of art. It makes you think how wonderful it would be if every city embrace this kind of attitude, and let beauty into their environment…

Stephane Fania / Art 11

Charles Pachter

Well it’s time for some artist to move on, and I greatly appreciated having some of Charles Pachter artwork here at Art11. I have to admit it feels like a little part of me is leaving with them, and I will miss their presence, especially the self portrait which kind of made them more real (like Charles was here). Nonetheless, Art11 is starting to go through its first rotation phase and I will have to get use to change. The next step is to look for new talent and more Canadian masters, even some international ones. Who knows what I will come across?  Thank you Charles…

Stephane Fania / Art 11

Crucifixion by Peter G. Ray

So far I learned quite a few things about the art gallery world. My past experiences have come in handy once again. Here I am with two new works from Peter G. Ray, not stretched, lying on the floor of my office, and everyday I passed by I heard this voice in my head screaming for me to do something so that they can be exposed properly. I asked Peter to get them stretched and framed so they can be hung. He came back with the frames. Here we are with the canvases, the wood frames and a staple gun. Earlier I mentioned my past experiences; well a long time ago my mother showed me how to reupholster chairs, it turns out it’s exactly the same…

Stephane Fania / Art 11

Eye and the Cat - Charles Pachter

It’s been a while since I posted on my blog; I’ve been busy with new artists and new ventures that have imparted upon me a better understanding of the art business. I most say that it all seems to be surreal at times and without any logical business sense. As pragmatic as I may be, I truly can understand the invisible realm in which the art world seems to permeate. On this beautiful journey of mine, I meet new artists that are quite interesting, this was the case with Charles Pachter, I was invited to meet him and view his body of works. While viewing his collection, I saw these lithographs that were resting one on top of each other on the floor. A picture of a cat caught my attention. Immediately I asked if any of those were available to me. His answer was quite interesting, and made me realize that what I saw in that art work was a glimpse of that realm…

Stephane Fania / Art 11

Icarus - Joseph Drapell

I’ve been living with all this beautiful artwork around me for a little while now, and I have to admit that it has enriched not only my life but also the lives of everyone around me. I can’t imagine not having this privilege, and by that I mean that I was able to access so much of it in so little time. Owning an art gallery is pretty self indulging, a way of having your cake an eating it to (to some extent). It is a game of patience and determination; you can’t make an impact just by opening the doors. Mind you, Art11 is by appointment only, their goes the theory of “just opening the doors”. The road ahead looks great and promising, the efforts have to be continuous to establish this gallery, but the benefits are self fulfilling. The first time I glanced at Icarus, a painting by Joseph Drapell, I was so moved that to this day, it represents one of my best memory if this beautiful venture. I just hope the wax won’t melt before I reach my destination.

Finally it’s here, the Joseph Drapell event at Art11. It’s Tuesday November 16^th 2010 and we (Igloo design and I) have put together a beautiful exhibition. The invitations have been sent, the catering has been ordered, the alcohol picked up, and the staff ready. Being the official second event, I was confident that it would be a great success. Well it was, the gallery space never looked better, we served sushi that was prepared on site, coupled with a beautiful white wine and some mint chocolate. Two lovely young women dressed in geisha outfit welcome all the guests. Everyone was impressed and I was happy. It’s amazing how you feel enriched by all the beauty that surrounds you, and for those that keep their eyes open, it’s actually everywhere around you.

Stephane Fania / Art 11

Later that summer, I went back to Toronto at Joseph Drapell’s studio to pick all the artwork that I wanted to expose at the gallery. Not knowing what I was getting involved in, I decided to rent a truck, drive to Toronto, pick up the artwork, and drive them back to Art11, in Montreal, all in 2 days. Wow that was enough to discourage me from ever doing that again. First, imagine the drive in a 14ft u-haul truck back and forth. Second, your nerves are rattled every time you hit a bum and you hear the artwork move in the back of the truck.  Third, you have to unload and bring it up to the gallery after you just drove 6 hrs. But that’s not the worst, no-no-no; you see there is a piece that is 9 feet x 5.6 feet (Realism Meets Idealism) that wouldn’t fit in the staircase or the elevator. I couldn’t leave it in the entrance of the building, so I remembered Joseph telling me that this particular artwork can be folded in half, and all I had to do is remove approximately 3 feet of the staples, unscrew the wood support, put a round cardboard tube, and fold it on itself. Yeah OK, I said to him before I left Toronto, it’s going to fit I won’t need to do this…

Stephane Fania / Art 11

Summer of 2010, the Peter G. Ray exhibit is still going on and I’m worried that I won’t find another artist before it ends in October. Fortunately, I get introduced to Joseph Drapell at Peter’s opening night. We had a chance to talk, and he invited me to his studio to view some of his works and discuss a possible collaboration. So, I packed up the family and drove up to Toronto, let me tell you it was worth the trip. His work is truly beautiful and inspiring, we got along well and we’re able to agree on our future collaboration. Now all I have to do is get back to Montreal, continue focusing on Peter and create more opportunities to place all this great artwork. If only they could see what I see, then everyone would understand the need for art in our lives, it has truly put things in perspective. I consider myself lucky to be enjoying so much of it at once, but it’s when my 3 year old daughter comes to the gallery and points to a painting and says that I should bring this one home and put it in her room, and that one in the living room…Priceless.

Stephane Fania / Art 11

Fast-forward to April 2010, the web site is still not ready, the opening for Peter G. Ray only weeks away and I’m frantic. Fortunately for me, my wife and her partner at Igloo Design are there and they plan a wonderful party. We have a cellist, “macarons” in black white and red, the colors of the Art11, and we serve Port and Kir. It turned out to be an amazing event. Now that I successfully went through my first opening, I’m thinking that I’ve created enough buzz that it would be as easy as following up on some leads and that I would sell the entire exhibition. Not so! It requires a lot more work and a lot more expertise that I anticipated, I needed help. I started reading up on various methods of promotion and marketing, how to position the artworks and the artist, digging deep into the business model that I had created in order to attract the specific target market that wants to acquire art and need a tax deduction. Complicated, not really, it’ll just take some time…

Stephane Fania / Art 11

Well it’s already December of 2009, we have to finish the gallery space before January because the contractor won’t be available for the first three months of the year. We need lights, one new wall, and some paint. How long can that take? Let me tell you it’s always longer than expected and it dragged well into mid January before it was finished. Also, we need a logo and a web site, being a new endeavor and one which is totally unfamiliar, our ideas are not communicated in the most organized fashion and it leads to a lot of misunderstanding and confusion with the people we are working with, more delays. The good news is that we receive Peter G. Ray’s works and we are totally thrilled to look at them everyday, we can’t wait to throw the opening party which is set to take place in April of 2010. Now I have to set up the gallery for the first time and I don’t have a clue. Where to place them? How to light them? Which one next to which?  Given that I don’t like to ask for help and that I want things done when I want them done, I grab a hammer, some nails, a measuring tape, and a level and I’m making holes and I’m hanging the paintings. What the worst that can happen, I have some holes to patch up…..

Stephane Fania / Art 11