BOX11 Roundup 2/2–in the BOX

mixed media – l. t. dougherty

Yes, it has been 5(!) months since the BOX11 Art Show & Sale and you know why this is a perfect time to be talkin’ about it again?  BOX is launching the Encore public open house series where you can check out new work that BOX artists have been cranking out since November.   Check out Encore on Wednesdays, May 2, 9, and 16, 5-7pm in WalterFedy’s amazing space at 675 Queen St. S, Kitchener.  Open to all.  Artists will be around for chatting.

As a warm-up, here are an unreasonable number of photos from BOX11 that show the private Curator’s Reception and the public 2-day show.  If you want to catch up first, check out Part 1/2 that shows the show set up.

Acrylic on canvas – Jennifer Gough

BOX opens with a really great invite-only Curator’s Reception on the Friday night.  Wine…

music… (Juneyt here bringing his awesome guitar)

and people!  Lots of people, in the former Rumpel Felt factory at Victoria and Duke,…

Oil on canvas – Mr. James Nye 

soaking in the art.

There were snacks, too.  Amazing snacks.  And you know I always shoot the snacks, but missed this time.

I was all wrapped up in this dramatic lighting by Alan and Alex Hoch.  I was on a real bender last year shooting people in crowds in silhouette.  And this was perfect for that.

Acrylic on wood panel – Greg Kirch

I bought this painting from Greg Kirch as soon as I stepped in the door.  He’s got a small studio on King right around the corner from James Nye’s studio.  Two of my fave painters on the same block in DTK.

Hello artist, Christina Preece.  Bought an awesome painting from Christina 3 minutes after buying Greg’s piece, so all the shopping was done within 10 minutes of doors-open.

Background: Oil on canvas – David G. White      Foreground: Photographs – Raegan Little 

Tried to stay out of the shot for the multi-talented Brennan Bell, shooting video for Huckleberry Film Studios.  I invited Huck’s founder and my very good friend Von Darnell to shoot BOX, and they put out an awesome video.

Each venue for the 3 BOX events since 2009 have a different character.

Photographs – Joe Martz 

Hello photographer, Joe Martz.

Acrylic on canvas – Swati Soni

Swati hit a home run at the show, selling out all her work.

Hello photographer, Susan Campbell (left)

Oil on canvas – Mr. James Nye

Jame’s work showed so well on this wall.  Perfect.

Guest curator Jim Erb representing BOX11’s charity partner.

BOX11 curator Suzanne Luke may kill me for including this one, but it captures exactly how I feel when I buy a piece of art that I totally love.

Acrylic on canvas – nik harron 

You can appreciate nik’s work on the macro scale…

and the micro scale.

Debbie Currie (right) is *everywhere* there’s something art-related happening in town and BOX11 was no exception.  Creative Enterprise’s Heather Sinclair (left).

Photographs – Larry Williamson

Left: Oil on canvas – Terry Torra       Right: Oil on canvas – Yaeyul Kim 

Acrylic on canvas – Fatima Garzan

And that wrapped up the Curator’s Reception, which lead to the public main event on Saturday and Sunday…

Before the show opened on Saturday morning, just like last year, there was a historical talk…

by Associate Professor Geoffrey Hayes from the Department of History at the University of Waterloo. He described the history of the Rumpel Felt company and the historical context throughout the lifetime of the company. Professor Hayes had some terrific old photos combined with some great video of felt making machinery running in the factory.

There was an optional $5 kick-ass box lunch from e.v.o. Kitchen available during the talk.

Oil on canvas – David G. White

My very own bro, Dave White, had his amazing pieces in the show.  They really popped with the lighting here, which is a little different than Dave’s kitchen studio.

Acrylic on canvas – Swati Soni

Good crowds came out both days.

The green window panels made me think Mountain Dew bottles.

Cool box pyramid of BOX contributors.

mixed media – l. t. dougherty

Behind this tiny 6” door…

mixed media – l. t. dougherty

was a tiny tiny world…

mixed media – l. t. dougherty

that really captivated viewers of all ages.

Great remnants…

from the past.

Encaustic – Michelle Salter 

The fast-fencing allows a lot of flexibility in hanging the work.

Big lighting challenge in here for the Hoch men.  They had to use beam clamps to mount all this gear and then contend with all that super-green light beaming through the windows.  They’re such pros, they nailed it.

My pals Kate Colmer and Von Darnell from Huckleberry Film Studios shooting B roll.

BOX chief, Cathy Farwell (left), chatting up the crowd.

Hi Swati…

and Larry…

and Joe.

Waterloo Regional Chair, Ken Seiling, stopped by.

Artist Nicholas Rees.

I love the smiles at the show.  There’s something about art…

combined with connecting personally with the artist.

My Dad rolled in, chatting up Raegan, while my Mom and Carolyn checked out Dave’s work.

Oil on canvas – Terry Torra

Not surprising, it turned out that my Dad knows Terry Torra’s (in cap) brother from back in the day in Sarnia.

The fabulous BOX cashiers!

On the Sunday morning, there was a really great…

art appreciation talk, featuring Jane Buyers, Mary Misner, and Suzanne Luke.  Through this talk, and just hanging around shooting photos during the jurying process, I learned a ton about the importance of a body of work, presentation of work, pricing, and a whack of other stuff.  Fascinating.

More box lunches on Sunday, and then…

more looking at…

Left to right, work by: Terry Torra, Yaeyul Kim, David G. White

the art.

Caught myself wondering how long these catches of felt had been stuck to this post.

Encaustic – Michelle Salter

Hi Michelle (right).

Oil on canvas – Terry Torra

Artist and my friends, Denise Strong and Cathy Farwell, surprised by the camera once again.

Oil on canvas – David G. White

You should buy this piece from Dave.  My photo doesn’t do justice to the blues.

In fact, you can ask Dave (left) about that and other pieces of his work at the upcoming BOX Encore open houses at WalterFedy (remember?  May 2, 9, 16, 5-7pm).  If there’s one thing Dave likes to talk about, it’s his paintings.

Laser-cut BOXware schwag hat – Darin White, Model: Jennifer Bedford

And with a tip of the hat…

BOX11 was a wrap.  The artists rallied for a bit of admin stuff before we started breaking down the show.  I have to tell you, I have never, in my life, been treated as well as a volunteer as I was during the BOX11 show.  Respect!  Hey, you should consider volunteering this year!

A few extra BOX art cards.

Cathy’s already thinking about the next BOX opportunity.

And with that, I’m really curious what new work the BOX artists have come up with in the past 5 months.  Should make for interesting open houses in May.

Happy making,
DW