Had a fantastic time at Art! Vancouver last weekend. We moved into the Vancouver Convention Centre on Wednesday night with the help of our friend Pennylane Shen, associate curator at Baux-Xi Gallery; our consultations with her prior to the show and her guidance when it came to hanging my work were invaluable to me as a first-time art fair exhibitor. In our safety vests, we navigated our way through forklifts, delivery vehicles and all kinds of hammering, and slowly set up the booth. Opening night on Thursday was very well attended, with thousands of people creating a vibrant atmosphere to kick off the show. Things settled into a steadier pace for the weekend, and i manned the booth with the help of my daughter Amanda & her friend Serena, a talented shoemaker if you are looking for some handmade footwear. We visited with locals and out-of-towners, got to know some of the other artists, and chatted with gallery owners who were also exhibiting at the event. Thanks to all the friends & family that stopped by to say hi, and i really enjoyed meeting everyone who came my way. My rodeo series brought several Calgarians and Cloverdale Rodeo fans in for closer look, my last name drew in some fellow Latvians, and i’m sure our wine & chocolate paved the way for some of the great conversations we enjoyed.
I’m also pleased to announce that we have a winner for our Art! Vancouver contest! Vancouverite Connie Hardie won my painting Sunset Morningside. Thanks to the nearly one hundred people who entered, and a warm congratulations to Connie!
Being a part of Vancouver’s first international art fair was a great experience, though i was glad to put my feet up for a little while on Sunday night when all was said and done!
