WOW!!! The Ferrari 500’s Debut Exhibition was a fantastic success!
We had roughly 200 art lovers come through to check out art by 12 artists, and they came with buying art in mind! In a single 5 hour period, $6,000+ of art was sold!
I think we’ve proven the concept: A price point of $500.00 as a maximum for an art show really does have power to bring in buyers. Affordable Excellence.
Our community non-profit beneficiary, Button Factory Arts (our Waterloo community arts hub), will receive 10%, which will be $600+, plus the proceeds from some donated artwork. Yay!
So, I’m sending a big THANK-YOU! to all who came out, who purchased art, and who helped make this event a reality!
I didn’t do this show all on my own, as the participating artists pitched in greatly with graphic design services, promotional expertise, and much more.
So, after a rest, it’ll be time to start gearing up for the 2nd rendition, Mach 2. 😊
The Slide Show Below gives you a peek at what I’ll be offering at Friday’s Ferrari 500.
Eleven other local artists will be showing their amazing work as well. We’ll all be donating 10% of the proceeds from every sale to Button Factory Arts.
Every single piece is priced at $500.00 or UNDER!
Hope to see you there!
Friday Evening, February 24, 4:00pm to 9:00pm at Button Factory Arts
Forget all that ‘supporting the arts’ bunk.
Why should you want to collect art?
Why should you want to spend your scarce resources on mere decoration?
Consider This Scenario:
You’re single, and your job takes up 80% of your free time and you just don’t even notice your walls. Imagine that you found an eye-catching painting that spoke to you.
Pro-Photonic Sunshine System
So you took down that old poster, and hung the painting there instead. So now, every morning as you’re dashing out the door, you catch a glimpse of the colors and forms in the painting. When you’re on your way to work, you see something that reminds you of the painting. When you come home, you may see something in the painting that helps you see the solution to a problem that you’ve been trying to solve. Weeks later, when you least expect it, you see something totally different in the painting that you really never noticed before. So you start wondering about the artist’s intent for the painting. And then you remember that the artist lives in town, and is always posting about this show or that show, and you could easily show up at a show just to ask the artist some questions. After all, talking about art is one of the things that artists like to do most. Whether the artist shrugs or launches a dissertation on the meaning of the piece, your thoughts will be enriched, because your imagination will be challenged! And then you’ll see more of the artist’s work, and you’ll realize you may have a connection to these pieces too! You turn around and are struck by the absolute truth and beauty of another painting.
Inevitable Intrusion into the Delusion of Exclusion
You think about buying it, but your funds are too low, so you don’t. But the idea of the painting is knocking around in your brain, becoming almost as important as the painting already on your wall, because it is inspiring emotions and thoughts. It’s even altering the way you see the painting on your wall. In fact, every life event somehow gets recorded in the painting on the wall, because it will be with you, as a silent steady companion, as your life changes and unfolds.
Thermal Sensaton Detoxification
Later, the very same artist posts a picture of a painting that’s very reminiscent of the painting you didn’t buy, but it’s even more evocative, so you arrange to purchase the piece with a payment plan. It takes a few months, but finally, you bring the new painting home, and hang it in a place of honor, over the sofa. The two paintings instantly connect, and your environment begins to transform into a very personal, reflective space, inspiring you in different ways. Home. Home is where the art is.
Another Scenario:
You’re starting a family. There’s a toddler in the house, and a baby on the way. As a baby shower gift, that artsy friend gave you a very colorful whimsical painting for the nursery.
SpWeeeee!!!
The painting is quietly with you as you comfort and nurture your child. You always hope your child will grow to have as much lively fun as the images in the painting. The painting fascinates the children. As they grow up, they ask about the painting, and you’re able to share all kinds of ideas about what the painting means.
Full Throttle
The artist’s new painting manages to find it way into your social media feed, and you realize it is the perfect companion piece for that first whimsical painting. So you buy it, and hang it with the other painting. Suddenly, the stories you were telling about the first painting evolve to include the new painting. So much imagination and so many giggles! The art becomes a part of the fabric of the family, and always serves as a conversation starter, and a reminder of happy times. Family. Art serves as a type of glue that helps to strengthen family relationships.
And Another Scenario:
A family is going through troubled times, which is causing a family member unfathomable grief. Sometimes there are no words that are adequate for expressing that which cannot be said. This is a key specialty of art. A painting has the ability to soothe by acknowledging pain, embracing the darkness, and by offering hope, all at the same time.
The Indescribable Churning of Green
A painting was found with graceful somber notes, and some small, but significant brighter notes, and it seemed, though somber, to have an overall positive vibe. This painting was hung at the kitchen table. The painting helped to pave the way for family members to be able to talk about profound sadness, maintaining the faith that hearts will eventually heal, and that life continues. It became a powerful symbol of the family’s strength through adversity.
Eternity Out The Window
Months later, a very similar, but brighter painting came along, and was hung in the dining room, and as the grief slowly subsided, the collection of paintings became livelier, almost documenting and honouring a journey through grief. Mourning. Art can serve to aid in the ability to recover emotionally.
And Lastly:
You’ve come through a struggle. The illness has lifted, the ex left town, the long awaited job is finally a reality. It’s time to embrace a new life with perhaps a bit of frivolity. As you forge a healthy new life of positivity, you find art that embraces positivity!
Inter-Dimensional Transcendental Hop
It just feels good to look at it. This is exactly what you need to inspire creativity and happy thoughts. You hang the painting in the living room, but then the bedroom seems stark.
Pursuit of the Pink Preservationists
So you find another painting for the bedroom, and eventually, every room has a bright reminder for positivity! Positivity. Happiness. Harmony. Art can serve to enhance a brighter attitude.
Home. Family. Mourning. Harmony.
There are countless other ways that art plays a supporting role as it sees you through your life’s journey.
Westward Yearning Tree
Art provides a gateway towards understanding, empathy, and pure joy.
Collecting art is an investment in you, your family, and the betterment of living!
Not to mention supporting your local artists…. 🙂 🙂 🙂
Are You Ready?
If you’re ready to consider starting, or enhancing your art collection, there’s a great opportunity coming to Waterloo Region:
The Ferrari 500 features affordable excellence in art.
Every piece is priced at $500.00 or UNDER.
Hope to see you there!
As my paintings continue to get painted, and new concepts are becoming expressed, I’m always thinking about ways to sell paintings, in order to make way for even more paintings with more experimentation and more expression…
500?
So, I had the idea of a show where all of the art was very affordable, which to me, means that each painting would be priced at $500.00 – or under! And then the ideas exploded from there…
From the beginning, I knew that I’d like to have an invitational type of show, where artists that I personally know, and whose work I deeply respect, could come together to put on an event, because together, we are an amazing group of artists. 🙂 And together, we’ll be able to accomplish much more than we could individually. I am truly honoured to have so many of my friends and local artists agree to be a part of this show!
Ferrari?
The idea for the name, well, at first, it was just a giggle…
No, not this Ferrari 500!
But, to my surprise, it seemed to have staying power! Well… why not? Why not capitalize on having a very recognizable last name, that also is synonymous with the highest quality and undeniable aesthetics? It also makes sense, because all of the artists involved are top-notch (Ferrari quality!) local artists – and – a big part of the point of the show is to move art!
But Wait! There’s More!
I very much wanted to have a percentage of the proceeds go towards our local community. So, an important component of the Ferrari 500 is to help out a local nonprofit or charitable foundation by means of donating 10% of all sales to the community organization.
The Event
My vision for the Ferrari 500 is that it becomes a series of pop-up style shows, recurring 2 to 4 times a year, with changing venues, and changing community beneficiaries. Happily, my idea is beginning to transform into a reality. The Ferrari 500 Debut Exhibition is at hand!
Button Factory Arts
The venue and the community nonprofit are one in the same, our own local arts hub, Button Factory Arts. We in the Waterloo Region are so fortunate to have a facility where arts programming can happen, art classes can be taken, and art of all types, and artists from all levels of experience, are nurtured and appreciated. Sadly, due to unexpected structural renovations last fall, Button Factory Arts had to be closed, and therefore, lost a month’s worth of revenue from events and classes. So the proceeds raised by the Ferrari 500 will help towards restoring funds for operations and events. Yay!
Venue: Button Factory Arts, 25 Regina St. South, Waterloo
Date: Friday, February 24, 2017, from 4:00pm to 9:00pm
The Artists….
In the first rendition of the Ferrari 500, these 12 artists will take the starting gate:
The holidays have come and gone. It’s the dead of winter. In Canada. So why not focus on refreshing your home, cottage, or office space with a new splash of colour and lively expression? The prices will be, by design, low enough, and the atmosphere will be charged with artistic creativity. Come out and meet and support your local artists, see and support your local arts hub, enjoy some tasty nibbles and drinks, and find some unexpected treasures to cherish for years to come…
If you’re interested in delving into color theory for artists, you’ll want to clear your Thursday evenings in the fall!
I love what I do so much,
It’s hard to not want to share what I’ve learned over the years with others. I teach in a relaxed atmosphere, with lots of fun and nurturing guidance.
Color Studio at Button Factory Arts Thursday evenings, from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. October 13, 20, 27, November 3, 10, 17, 24, December 1 (2016)
Find out more and register at www.buttonfactoryarts.ca or inquire and register in person at 25 Regina Street in Waterloo.
Color Studio
This is a very intense and fast-paced 8-week series about the mastery of color mixing and color usage. This class is not best for absolute beginners, but is great for those with at least a small amount of painting experience, and a lot of determination. Students should be 15 years old or older.
The many exercises are fun, enlightening, and quite challenging ways of learning through doing. At the heart of this class is coming to a deeper understanding of color relationships, both in color theory and in color usage. Not only will you enhance your ability to understand color systems, navigate color space, see colors, match color, and mix colors; you will also enhance your ability to embolden your use of color and stretch your abilities to be more accurate, more expressive, and more imaginative with your color choices.
The entire first session will be dedicated to discussion of color theory, and there will be no painting during the very first session, as it will be all discussion and demonstrations. You will receive useful handouts, and you may want to take notes. Part of the discussion will be the appropriate paints and other supplies to buy and there will be a short list of required acrylic paint colors.
On Saturday July 18th from noon to 8:00pm, check out the wares of local artists and artisans in the alleyway between the Uptown Parkade and Button Factory Arts (between King and Regina) as you’re checking out the Jazz Festival
My booth will feature a Once-Only Sale of my MUKster paintings at specially low prices. These irresistible characters want to come home with YOU!!!
For me, serenity is a condition of the soul, and it means ‘calm acceptance’.
What does that look like?
Well, representing calmness usually involves horizontality. Calmness can also be represented as a lack of excitement and an abundance of harmony, or, unity. A serene type of calmness epitomized by expansive scenes in nature, with sight lines that go into the distance: water, mountains, sky, trees and flowers.
It’s as if the idea of serenity has to with something bigger than you. Big open spaces embody the serenity of the great outdoors. Indoors, most people find open, uncluttered spaces to be more calming than tight, cluttered spaces. Blues, cool tones and neutral colors all seem to point to serenity. A notable exception would be the type of serenity found a nice, warm, cozy cocoon setting, definitely not an open space, but also a space with no room for clutter or confusion.
The challenge with serenity is to not over-do it. Serenity is just a short step away from boredom. And that’s where the yellow comes in!
I hope you can make it to my show, Serene Yellow Spaces, on Friday, March 13th, from 5:00 to 7:00 at Button Factory Arts.
Why I would want to feature generous amounts of yellow in every painting of this exhibition about serenity? Well, yellow is my favorite color, as I’ve always been attracted by its energy, happy mood, and yellow’s powerful ability to concentrate intellect and spirit. It’s as if, to me, that yellow exists for the purpose of propelling us to greater levels of conscious progress and creativity. Also, yellow exists for the purpose of allowing our spirits to soar high enough to be able to jettison away the everyday petty things that can weigh our spirits down. With such tremendous power, yellow must be used judiciously, allowing all of the positive aspects to shine while limiting the potential overkill of its hyper puppy-like exuberance. Additionally, yellow must not be allowed to drift into the negative realms of dinginess and jaundice! Only healthy, strong yellows, and healthily yellowy neighbors of yellow (greens, oranges, and browns) shall be cast in the yellow characters of the paintings in this show. Placing some restraints on the over-exhaustive use of yellow will ultimately allow serenity to co-exist with the yellow, and result in an amazing sense of peace and harmony.
You can see my work in person!
While seeing the photographs of paintings is quite helpful, there’s nothing like being able to see a painting in person! The listings below are all places in the Region of Waterloo where you can go to view actual paintings. Also, I’m always happy to meet you at any of these places, just send me an email and we can schedule a time to meet.
Chrysalides House of Art
School of Fine Art and Gallery www.CHRYSALIDESHOUSE.ca
619 Wild Ginger Avenue, unit A2, Waterloo Phone: 519 208-5961
Chrysalides House usually has one or two of my paintings in the Gallery. This location features a gallery, gift shop, an art studio, printmaking studio and creative play lounge, where they offer ongoing weekly fine art classes for both children and adults.
Office of Lou Seguin, Tax Accountant
72 St. Leger Street, Unit 300, Kitchener
This is the space where I previously shared a studio space with Lou Seguin, my good friend and tax accountant. Happily, Lou is keeping some of my available art on his walls, so the paintings don’t have to sit in storage, and you can visit them any time! And Lou is a great tax guy if you need one! (Contact him directly – louseguin@bellnet.ca ) While Lou usually welcomes visitors, (Well, maybe not so much during tax season unless you’re a client!) it is best to contact me so I can set up a time to meet you there.
Button Factory Arts Gift Shop Button Factory Arts
25 Regina Street South, Waterloo, ON, N2J 1R8
I usually have some smaller pieces and prints hanging around at the gift shop. There are soooo many cool items there all year-round. Christmas season is extra special, as the gift shop overtakes the gallery space in December!
A recent addition to the gift shop is this amazing cabinet! Scott Crockard has created and is selling custom furniture featuring panels of my work! So cool!
Amy Ferrari Art Studio Button Factory Arts
25 Regina Street South, Waterloo, ON, N2J 1R8
This is my little home away from home. My studio hours tend to be spotty, so to be sure to catch me at the studio, please contact me!
Amy Ferrari has moved her studio to Waterloo’s Button Factory Arts, where she also teaches various classes, including an intensive Colour Lab. The tiny 2nd floor office space is well lit, with lots of natural light, and it’s gradually becoming a very warm and cozy creating space. Despite her unpredictable working hours, Amy welcomes studio visits, and usually has an open-door policy, with a ready smile.
“The decision to leave Globe Studios and leaving a shared space with the amazingly talented Lauren Judge was a very difficult decision. However, the Button Factory has always felt like home, and I’m already there alot for teaching, and it’s much closer to home!”
In addition to teaching and painting, Amy also has small paintings and prints displayed and for sale in the Button Factory’s Gift Shop.
amyferrariart.me 
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