Calling all artists and artist-wannabes

By Susan Gartner



“Artist’s reception at The ArtSpace…” “New exhibit at ‘Would You, Could You’…” “The Winds will feature works by…”

Notices like these appear weekly in this Blog and in the Yellow Springs News and in flyers all over town. Do you ever fantasize about having your own work exhibited in a gallery? Does the pressure of a blank canvas or the responsibility of creating enough artwork to justify a full exhibit keep you from pursuing this dream?

If this sounds like you, a rare opportunity to have your dream exhibit in your dream gallery is available June through July.

On Tuesday, May 25, from 1:30-3:30 p.m., calligraphy artist Ann Bain and mixed media artist Nancy Mellon will be offering an Artist Trading Cards workshop at Village Artisans, 100 Corry Street. Fee: $12.

Artist Trading Cards, or ATCs, are miniature works of art, 2½ x 3½ inches, and are small enough to fit inside a standard baseball-card-collector pocket or sleeve. The idea behind ATCs is to encourage artists to trade their cards with one another rather than sell them. After creating their miniature masterpieces in an ATC workshop, participants then spend the latter part of the workshop trading cards with each other. Everyone goes home with a full gallery of new and unique art that fits in the palm of their hand!

The greatest part about ATCs is the size of the “canvas” which is much more user-friendly and forgiving than standard-sized canvases. Sometimes an ATC artist will be inspired to create a larger piece of work and then cut or tear the work into 2½ x 3½-inch pieces. All mediums are welcome: acrylic, watercolor, markers, collage, stamps, pen and ink, calligraphy, fabric, wood carving, even knitting! The possibilities are endless!

Here’s where the unique opportunity comes up. Any ATCs created in the May 25 workshop or at home will then be exhibited at two local galleries – “Little Art at The Little Art” (for the month of June) and “Size Does Matter Part II” at Village Artisans (for the month of July). There is no entry fee or artist statement required, no lengthy forms to fill out, all submissions will be accepted, and you don’t have to worry about sending in photos of your work for pre-approval. Anyone of any age or artistic ability is welcome to submit up to eight cards. ATCs dropped off at Village Artisans by May 31 will be exhibited in both shows. ATCs submitted after May 31 will go in the July exhibit only.

Face-to-face trading will occur on the final day of the show, Saturday, July 31, from 1-3 p.m. at Village Artisans. If you cannot be present that day and do not want your cards to be traded, be sure to leave a self-addressed stamped envelope with Village Artisans so that your cards can be sent back to you after the July show.

Take part in this opportunity to have the dream exhibit you always wanted! For questions and workshop registration, call Nancy Mellon at 767-1366.