THE ARTICIPATE COLLECTIVE

Meeting Notes

Date: 1/18/25

Topic: Local opportunities to show art

Agenda: Collective opportunities and business topics

Attendees: Carol, Christina, Dave, Debby, Kate, Peggy, Annette, Kim, Carmen

Could not attend:  Ree, Terry

Next meeting – Saturday Feb 15 - 4pm at Articipate

Sections:

I.   Scheduled Venues

II.  Additional Proposed Venues

III. Other Discussions

IV.  Previous Venue Discussions

V.   Previous Other Discussions

I.  SCHEDULED VENUES 

Merchants Bank

  • Dates:  May 7 – June 17

  • Amanda Koss

  • We do our own installment.

  • Does Amanda take a commission – Debby will ask.

  1. Articipate Collective Wall Gallery

  • Dates:  Continuous

  • Keep our art on the walls.  

  • Bring people over to see art – text Deb first.

  • Rotate your art when you need to.

II.  ADDITIONAL PROPOSED VENUES for 2025

  1. Pizzo - Christina

  2. Wasserman - Debby

  3. MC Brewery pop up - Debby

  4. Ferndale library - Christina

  5. Bloomfield Township library - Kate

  6. Gallery at Brewery Park (Crane building) - 

  7. Huntington Woods gallery (at library) - Dave

  8. Anton - Annette

  9. War Memorial – Peggy, Kim

  10. Swords into plowshares – Carol

  11. Local art walk/ride, perhaps on a Friday, combining Articipate, Yankee studios, Hecht Gallery, etc. proposed by Christina

III.  OTHER DISCUSSIONS 

  1. New Collective Members

  • We are willing to begin adding new members.

  • If anyone knows of a candidate, share the name and Instagram/website/etc with current Collective members.  

  • If the candidate’s art looks like a good fit, the person nominating the candidate will reach out, provide our mission statement (see below), inform of our annual dues (amount still in discussion), and invite to next meeting.

  • First new member approved:  Steve Schoeberlein.  Dave will reach out to Steve once we have finalized our mission statement.

  1. Mission Statement

  • We broke into 3 groups of 3.  Each group came up with mission statement ideas:

    • Our mission is to create and discover opportunities to share our art in local communities, collectively in a supportive, dynamic group environment. 

    • We are a group of contemporary visual artists who joined together to support each other’s individual artistic expression and seek opportunities to exhibit our work and to enrich our communities. 

    • Promote art, share our love of art, provide opportunities for artists that will foster interests, and inspire.

  • With input from ChatGPT and Andy

    • Articipate Art Collective is a dynamic and supportive group of contemporary visual artists dedicated to sharing our art, promoting artistic expression, and enriching local environments. We welcome opportunities for collaboration, exhibition, and inspiration, even as we support each other’s individual artistic journeys. Through collective effort, we seek to cultivate creativity, spark meaningful connections, and instill a deeper appreciation for art in our communities.

  • Next steps:  

    • We will all review the above draft mission statement, and email thoughts to all using our subject line “Official Business”.

  1. Proposing New Venues for Group Shows

  • Propose the venue to Collective at a meeting.

  • Use the forms created by Ree (attached in this email).

  • Wait for group authorization from Collective before outreach to new venue.

  • Use the draft script below (#4) for your initial talking points with new venue.

  1. Talking points for initial visit/discussion with new exhibition venue

  • I am with The Articipate Collective, which is a group of 12 visual artists interested in creating a rotating art show among local venues.

  • We are loosely under the umbrella of the Articipate Art Studio in Berkley.

  • For a little background, in 2024, we had three exhibitions at Detroit/metro Detroit galleries, and four exhibitions at local public libraries.  

  • We are currently in the process of scheduling for 2025 and have one exhibition scheduled in May.

  • We are flexible in the number of artwork pieces to exhibit, depending upon space

  • This is a preliminary reach-out for informational purposes.  Would you be interested in further discussions with us, including themes, dates, reception, etc.?

  • If desired, we are able to handle our artwork sales by QR code between the buyer and our Collective.

  • If you are not speaking with the person in charge, ask if you can have that person’s contact information, or what is the best way to proceed.

  • If talking with a library:

    • If you and your colleagues are interested in donating space at your library, we will do the rest.

    • Do you currently have a system for hanging art?

    • Who on your library staff might be the liaison for us?  Can I contact the Friends of the Library?

  1. Themes for exhibitions

We listed the following possibilities, and voted on one to begin with, which is “Colors” or a synonym or variation, such as hues, shades, tints, tones, etc.  The thought is to use this “Colors” theme for the Merchants Bank exhibition.

  • Colors (most votes)

  • Destination

  • Distraction

  • Unknown destinies

  • Reality show

  • Interiors

  • Contour drawing

  • Small show – 12x12

  • Landscapes

  • Urban landscapes

  • Dreamscapes

  • Hearth and home

  • Postcard show

  • Vintage

  • Overshadow

  • I, object

  • Girlhood, womanhood, sisterhood, brotherhood, etc.

  • Art of dining

  • Other themes mentioned at previous meetings:  Beauty Myth, Disruption, Risk, Graffiti, Fairy Tales, Wishful Thinking, Wishes, Impermanence, Interconnected, Faded Dreams, Around the World, Untraveled, Unraveled, Bucket List

  1. Collective Calendar New Page – Artist Opportunities

  • There is a new page (second worksheet) called Artist Opportunities (see link below)

  • Everyone has edit capabilities.  

  • If you hear of a solo or group opportunity being advertised, add it to the list and include a link to the website for further information.

  • NOTE:  Please do not act upon any of the group opportunities on this list.  We will discuss these at our meetings, identify someone to follow up, and use our information-gathering forms created by Ree.

  • COLLECTIVE Calendar 2024 - Google Sheets

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The following items are history from prior meetings.

IV.  PREVIOUS VENUE DISCUSSIONS

  1. Potential Venues Discussed at Previous Meetings

  • Syndicate Restaurant – looking for art for their walls. – Christina will check out.

  • Southfield Arts Council Program – Carol will look into.

  • Chazzano – Deb will look into

  • Ferndale Arts Council - Terry will look into.

  • Corewell – Ree will look into.

  • Edo Ramen – Restaurant 13 & Greenfield - Deb will contact in future.

  • Royal Oak Farmers Market.  We were too late last year.  There are 3-4 months before the deadline – enough time to apply for 2025.

  • Berkley Art Bash - Not for this year because of the work, cost, and venue not suitable

  • Libraries

    • Huntington Woods library - Carol will reach out to library.

    • Gross Point Library - Carol will look into.

    • Birmingham Library – to be discussed

    • Troy Library – to be discussed

    • Farmington Hills Library – to be discussed

  • Festival art fair option

    • Palmer Park, Royal Oak, Belle Isle

  • Hair salons - Everyone visit their hair salons and see if there is an opportunity

  • Highland Park 333 Building Annex Gallery

    • Pop up

    • 20% commission

    • Minimum $450 for a weekend show, $200 for additional weekend.

  • Hatch Gallery – 

  • Crispelli – Deb

  1. Venues on Hold

  • Livonia – Carol talked to them.  Put on hold for future.

  • Clawson library - On hold, no further updates. No hanging system.

  • Hazel Park - Deb will look into funding for future. No hanging system.

  1. Completed Venues 2024

  • Berkley Library – Jan 3-Feb 12 and April 9-July 11

  • New Connections @ Articipate – Mar 24 April 20

  • Gallery at Brewery Park - May 4-May 31, 2024. See Google Sheet for details.

  • MC Brewery Pop-Up - May 29.  See Google Sheet for details.

  • Southfield Library – July 1 – Aug 30

  • Ferndale Library – Aug 23-Sep 29

  • Bloomfield Township Library   Oct 1–31

  • Articipate Precious Gifts Holiday Market - Dec 1–Dec 31

V. PREVIOUS OTHER DISCUSSIONS

  1. Share calls for art in email, subject line: Official Business/Opportunity

  2. Ferndale Think Tank

  • Engage art centers for various cities

  • Inner Sage – pop ups

  • Art walk

  • Open studios

  • Mini art prize

  • Artist directory

  • Mark Loeb – organizes “integrity shows”.

  • Pizzo Gallery – new gallery, black and white show – deadline Nov 1. No entry fee

  1. Post-exhibit review after each show

  2. Proposing prospective venues

  • When proposing a new venue for the Collective, use the forms created by Ree

  1. Prints of artwork

  • Only originals will be allowed at shows, with exceptions like Articipate holiday show.

  1. Banner and poster

  • Banner and posters available for shows (created by Ree)

  1. Dues

  • Ree is treasurer.

  • Everyone contributed $25 for 2024, cash or check.

  • Consider increasing dues in the future to reimburse for receptions