Model of Bluestone Fine Art Gallery
I Need to See It
When planning the artwork to be included in an exhibit, it’s good to know how many linear feet of wall space is available.
With this information you can pick the artwork for the exhibit, do a bit of math, and be assured it will all fit.
While quick, this method is no fun for me and I have a hard imagining if the exhibit really works.
I find that I need to visualize the art in the space to do a good job planning. Creating a scaled paper model of the gallery walls is the perfect solution.
I’ve done this for all by my first solo exhibit and it’s one of my favorite activities when preparing for a show. Usually I create flat sheets to represent each wall.
For my solo exhibit at Bluestone Fine Art Gallery in Philadelphia, opening March 16, I decided to make a three dimensional model as I’ve never been in the gallery space and I knew this would help me visualize it better.
Art For the Walls
Scaled Art Images
After creating the model I then print out images of the artwork I am considering to try it out on the paper walls.
The colors aren’t perfect coming from my printer, but that doesn’t matter for this exercise.
I tape the art on the model walls, moving things around and get a good feel for what would fit and what art works well together.
I can now create a list of the artwork that will be heading to my exhibit.
Art on the Model Walls
Eating Structures #116
Godzilla vs. the Gallery
You might notice that the model looks a bit rumpled in the photo with art on the walls. That is because my studio assistant, Ms. Zilla, thought it would be a good idea to hold a wrestling match inside the paper model.
I had to pin the model to my studio wall and reinforce it thick strips of Styrofoam to rescue it after the tussle.
Good thing she is still adorable.
PS – My February Make and Offer Sale is going on right now for Fractured Fish. This is your chance to own my original artwork at the price you name.
I’ll be donating 25% of the proceeds of this sale to Blue Ocean Institute, the only conservation organization that uses science, art, and literature to inspire a closer bond with nature, especially the sea.
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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
This is great! I do scale printouts and drawings, though I don’t build a 3-D model. Though I suspect Ms Zilla may be using mind control to make you build the model for her amusement. ;)
Tina,
This is the first time I did the 3D model but it is also the first time I hadn’t see the space first, it was hugely helpful. Even if Zilla did continue to chew on it :)
—lisa
Great suggestion – love looking at your artwork – definitely will try this 3-D mock up for my next show. Hope to see your work when I am in Philadelphia for the SDA/SAQA Conference in March.
Catherine,
Hope this idea works out well for you! I’ll look for you in Philly although not sure how much of the conference I’ll be able to attend – probably not much and I’ll just be around for openings. Hopefully we’ll cross paths.
—lisa
Lisa, this has to be one of the easiest, most brilliant ideas I’ve seen for exhibition planning. I tried to do this with a gallery once…but they were so disorganized, they didn’t even have the measurements and floor plan to share with artists. After several times asking them to measure, and with nothing forthcoming, I cancelled the show and moved it elsewhere.
I think planning is one of the most successful ways to ensure a well-curated show ahead of time, and it does everyone the proper service in viewing the work.
Janice,
My gallerist is great and most cooperative – she sent dimensions and measured walls and sent photos. I can if I would have run into problems such as you did that it would be a no-go with exhibit. If you don’t understand the space it’s hard to plan the artwork to fit it.
—lisa
This is a “scathingly brilliant idea” (Haley Mills in The Trouble With Angels). I can’t get over it – a process that speaks to your high level of professionalism as an exhibiting artist while allowing you to have fun making a “playhouse.” :-)
Your blog is so truly helpful …. much of it could become chapters of a book. I don’t know how you manage to make such impressive quantities of your art and still have time for blogging so extensively!
Congrats on the show!
Morna,
Thanks :):) I think I just like playing with scissors and glue :)
I’m glad you find my blog helpful. I like writing and it helps me clarify my plans so it’s great others can benefit by my need to translation my thoughts into words.
—lisa
I’m the kind of person that likes to take graph paper and cut out furniture to scale to configure workspaces. I find it allows me to play with all the possiblities. This is the same thing in 3D. I love the idea. When my work finds it’s way into a solo show at a fine setting I’ll be sure to use this method.
I also wondered how difficult it is to get the floor plan from venues.
Is it taking the idea too far to suggest taking your phone and using it to make a mini movie of a person walking through the gallery? You could always fit the cat with a head cam. :)
Kathleen,
Yes! I used to do this also. Back in graduate school days when I would move once or twice a year I always did the graph paper floor plan with little pieces of furniture. Shoe-horning everything into those tiny apartments was a challenge.
So far I haven’t had a hard time getting floor plan info. Sometimes I only get all info but usually I’ll visit the location to get a good idea of what the floor plan is and can work from that. Tonight I’m off to see the next space for the next show – bringing along a tape measure and camera!
—lisa
PS – love the idea of the cat head cam. The other day I got all 3 cats to sit in the gallery model – I need to post a photo of that. Who can resist a cute cat! :)