In 2022, Grasslands Gallery Online goes to an in-person art fair!
In 2021, Grasslands Gallery Online launched in late July, just in time to apply for a virtual booth at the virtual version of Art Now Fine Art Fair, the Saskatchewan event that’s the only show of its kind on the Canadian prairies. The fair was online because this was the last summer of full-on Covid, and many events were still online.
By early 2022, it was clear that Art Now Art Fair was returning to its in-person format live in Saskatoon, September 22 to 25 at Prairieland Park. And we at GGO enjoyed last year so much, with its virtual tours, video art talks and internet-based open events, that we knew we wanted to be a part of it again. But Grasslands Gallery Online is dedicated to its entirely online format, bringing beautiful Saskatchewan art to you wherever you are. We don’t house artwork.
Now what?
The answer is, “Logistics is everything.”
On September 19, the gallery’s little car will load up with local GGO artwork and head for Regina, SK. We’ll travel 340 km for that first leg. There we’ll load up again with artwork by artists with Grasslands Gallery Online who live in the southern part of this long and empty province and who have brought their creations to a central pickup point. Then it’s part 2, a drive to Saskatoon, 260 km further. The next morning, artists from the northern part will deliver their own artwork to the art fair venue.
We couldn’t be more grateful to the artists. They’re driving too, from all parts of the province to these larger locations. They’re trusting us to present their work in a manner they didn’t sign up for when they signed up with the gallery. They’ve been unfailing willing to adapt, to contribute, to help.
The steps after that? We install the show. Then we celebrate.
We made these virtual spaces to give you an idea of what the Grasslands Gallery Online Art Now booth will look like. In reality, it’s so much bigger. We’ll install our exhibition in a three-walled 16′ x 20′ space with room for 16 artists with multiple artworks. We even have an extra corridor wall facing a gathering area, for our largest pieces.
It’s going to be gorgeous. There’s a ticketed opening night reception with live music, and three days of free events. GGO artists Anne Brochu Lambert and Betsy Rosenwald will talk about their work at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, September 23 and 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 24, respectively.
You can find out about it all at ArtNow.ca . We would love to see you there.