Where would the Art Gallery of Alberta (AGA) be without art? For that matter, where would it be without artists?
According to Oksana Gowin, the gallery’s senior marketing and communications manager, only about halfway. She stated the income derived from its major annual auction fundraiser accounts for more than 50 per cent of the budget for its educational programming.
“It’s a very generous donation,” she said, referring to the more than 70 gifts of paintings, sculptures, photographs and other types of artwork given by artists from all over Alberta and even outside of the province. She calls it overwhelming evidence the AGA has the full support of the professional arts community. “We’d like to think so,” she laughed.
What separates this auction from so many others is the process is still juried by a committee comprised of its chief curator, Catherine Crowston, along with two professional artists. Together, they seek out artists from the community at large and invite them to submit art.
One such artist is St. Albert’s Brenda Kim Christiansen. She says it’s an honour to be chosen and she doesn’t take the request lightly.
“I think it’s really important to have that art gallery in this city. It’s certainly a very visible icon for the arts in Edmonton.”
This is actually the third time that she has offered her support for the fundraiser. She said that she’s done it before and she’ll do it again. She doesn’t mind that she is giving up so much of her time and talent with no monetary compensation. It’s just that so many galleries and worthy causes rely on donated artwork for their fundraising auctions.
“You can’t say yes to everybody. I try to be quite selective.”
She did say there is the added benefit of boosted name recognition and that’s something that money can’t buy.
Art on the Block runs tomorrow night starting at 7 p.m. Christiansen and many other submitting artists will be in attendance. Tickets are still available at $125 and can be purchased at the door or in advance on the AGA’s website. Attendees will enjoy complimentary food and beverages courtesy of the onsite restaurant, Zinc. Evening cocktail attire is required.
Proceeds from ticket sales and artwork purchases go directly towards the gallery’s operational costs for its educational programs.
The AGA is located at 2 Sir Winston Churchill Square in downtown Edmonton. For more information, call 780-392-2500 or visit artontheblock.youraga.ca. Images of the auction items are also available online.
