CALL FOR ARTISTS

GENERAL POLICY

Gallery offers mostly personal (solo) exhibitions. From available artwork of the selected artist, Gallery chooses certain pieces and then designs a show with original title and adequate musical background. Each exhibition normally continues for three-four weeks

For each exhibition, gallery does installation and dismantling; provides the Internet listing; designs and prints announcement post cards, price lists, signs and labels; arranges private invitation mailing and press release; supplies liquor permit, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and musical arrangement for the opening reception; provides adequate display of artwork and gives a non-stop slide show of artwork temporarily located in a climate-controlled storage on premises; organises security, sales, and shipping to purchasers

Delivery of artwork to the gallery and return to the artist, term of consignment, currency of payment, gallery commission, trade discounts, limited exclusivity, etc. – subject to Contract

For ethical reason, Chancery Art Gallery is inclined not to exhibit those artists who have been already shown in other galleries around Muskoka. For the same cause, it does not exhibit artwork with traditional local motifs, like Muskoka Chair, Red Canoe, Loon, Moos, Landscape, Flowers, etc. "Abstract" painting is also avoided

ANNUAL EXHIBITIONS

• Ardour Eruption, annual festival of YOUNG artists with intention to support the rather exclusive number of young Canadians who sincerely believe that “Art Matters,” to bring together young artistic talents and to have fun celebrating the conclusion of our long, cold and snowy winter in the North... Submissions for 2011 festival are accepted

• Déjà Vu, annual selection from the International Toronto Art Expo – for art collectors who manage somehow to miss this one of the greatest Canada's cultural events in March. This is a "curator's pick" show – no submissions are accepted

• Coming About, annual group exhibition on the sailing matter, central feature of the annual multi-media Chancery Sailing Festival founded by the Chancery Art Gallery with intention to raise awareness of green navigation practices, encourage eco-friendly boating, promote the sailing as ecological psychotherapy, and persuade Sailing, Art & Sanity. Submissions for 2011 show are accepted

• Lazy Cottager, September retrospective of the past summer exhibitions – for those Muskoka summer residents who finally managed to leave their lake cottages, golf courses, tennis courts, yacht clubs, etc... This is a "curator's pick" show – no submissions are accepted

• Acknowledging Freudian Psychoanalysis as the most profound metaphor ever offered for the comprehension of human behaviour, spring exhibition presents artists' free associations on Unconscious Drives, Basic Instincts, Inter-Personal Conflicts, Libido, Love, Dreams, etc

• Recognizing Therapeutic Recreation as an effective treatment modality, summer exhibition thus reflects on thoughts, things and actions that make us feel better mentally and emotionally without cheap Prozac or expensive therapy. For example, see above about annual sailing show Coming About

• Fall is not an easy season for many: back-to-work depressions, psychotic de-compensations, increased suicides... Perhaps not surprisingly, October is the International Mental Illness Awareness Month. Add the Halloween zombies, and the picture becomes even more vivid. Therefore, the autumn show is somewhat spooky and scary

• Winter – a time of falling stars, realisation of mortality and philosophical reflection on life. In a broader view, all human existence is nothing but Narrative, anyway. So far, "Fairytale" is a generic icon for the winter exhibition

APPLICATION NSTRUCTIONS

To be considered for exhibition and sale, the artist shall submit to the gallery (1) digital images of his/her available artworks, (2) bio, (3) artist's statement and (4) any other relevant information. The following data should be included for each art work: (a) title, (b) year, (c) medium, (d) size, and (e) suggested retail price, which is expected to be the same as in the artist’s studio

Submission methods: CD or web links
No graphic e-mail attachments, please

GALLERY SPACE

Gallery occupies the ground floor of 19th century house facing a tiny walking lane right off the downtown main street – a street mall for nice shopping and fine dining. High 11-foot ceiling is covered with its original metal tiles; Walls combine old red brick and modern white plaster; Hardwood on the floor; Pieces of antique furniture of the period and antique baby-grand piano (functional) give a theatrical resemblance of a habitable hall as it was a hundred years ago

• Brick part of the southern wall in the back W 96” x H 96” (245 x 245 cm) usually holds one large work, but is also suitable for a triptych

• Beside this brick wall, there are two plaster panels: one W 33” (84 cm) next the powder room on left is perfect for a slim tall piece; another W 37” (94 cm) alongside the desk with bookshelves on right

• On the main shelves of the western wall information about the featured artist is displayed; There are also books and films related to the art theory, history and psychology; Two LCD displays give a slide show of artworks which are not on the floor at the moment, but available immediately for show and sale; Stairs lead up to the gallery/psychology office/library; part of the wall between the shelves and the stairs W 18,5” (47 cm) sometimes exhibits a few small pieces

• Main panel W 180” (460 cm) of the western wall usually displays from 3 or 8 paintings

• Northern exposure of the glass wall and entrance door provides the most desirable natural light supported by the Halogen “Natural Light Plus” in fixtures with theatrical “barn doors”. There is a space for two paintings: one on the brick part of the wall W 36” (90 cm) and one on the easel (under about 30” or 80 cm wide)

• Eastern wall between the window and the mantel W 87” (220 cm) has the best observation fr om the street; a focal point W 59” (150 cm) above the mantel with Price List and Guest Book on the top; the rest of the wall W 130” (330 cm)

• Another focal point part of the southern wall W 79” x H 59” (200 x 150 cm) above the piano usually exhibits one large piece

Usually there are from 12 to 30 artworks exhibited per show. The solo exhibition shown on the above photographs contained 17 paintings . Here are photos of a group show that offered 29 paintings