Inspire. Curate. Design. - September 2022

Inspire. Curate. Design. - September 2022

Planning an exhibition is more than hanging art on the wall. Curator’s often work in different paths. In some cases, one work or one artist inspires an exhibition. In others, an exhibition is based solely on the artist’s oeuvre, so the art dictates the exhibition. In the case of Gallery500’s show with Beaux Arts of Central Florida, we were inspired by a simple focus: Purple – or the 2022 Pantone Color of the Year, Very Peri (PANTONE 17-3938) to be more specific.

According to the Pantone Color Institute:

Displaying a carefree confidence and a daring curiosity that animates our creative spirit, inquisitive and intriguing PANTONE 17-3938 Very Peri helps us to embrace this altered landscape of possibilities, opening us up to a new vision as we rewrite our lives

You may not have realized but we love purple here at Gallery500. Our logo is a great shade of purple. I often wear purple to events and more recently have found myself drifting to various shades of purple for my nail polish choice. This subconscious decision making is just what the Pantone Color Institute insinuates, slowly leading the viewer to desire certain images, or color. Just as I have been drawn to purple, we hope this diverse group of artists can draw you in with a simple source of inspiration: Purple.

 

Once the curators found inspiration, it was up to the artists to create their masterpieces. In working with Beaux Arts coordinator, Peggy Banks, I was excited to host the Beaux Arts Group once again at the gallery. As Beaux Arts of Central Florida is an invite only membership of about 50 artists, the artists were asked to limit the size of their pieces.  Artists then submitted their purple inspired pieces to Peggy who narrowed the works to about 30 pieces. The choice of artworks was really all in the hands of Peggy and she has an amazing eye for coordinating a diversity of styles, subjects, and medias. I am consistently impressed with the quality of work from the members of Beaux Arts in addition to the variety of mediums the artists work with. Seeing the works on paper, or on the computer screen in this case, is one thing. Seeing the pieces together in the gallery space is another.

 

Have you ever played Tetris? Tetris is my favorite childhood game (and sometimes post-childhood favorite). I akin designing a show to playing Tetris – how to fit these various shapes and sizes into a certain space. Curation and design are similar processes and often involve and rely one another. When curating a show, one decides the pieces to exhibit. When designing a show, one lays out the display. Peggy and I worked together, placing each artwork one by one in the gallery to finalize a design that works well. Not only did we consider subject, colors, and size, but we also considered framing, material and lighting when placing the artworks. All these factors will truly influence the viewer to sincerely experience the pieces and interpret the works as they see fit. Our job as curators is to make sure the viewer sees each work individually but also as a group, together with the same inspiration. I am thrilled to present this show to our collectors and guests. Stop in the gallery September 2nd through October to see Purpilicious. I invite you to join us for the opening reception for Purpilicious on Friday September 9th from 5 – 8 PM at Gallery500.

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