As July heats up, art lovers everywhere often prioritize a trip to the museum or other art-related activities as part of our most treasured summer experiences.
There are always abundant options for fairs and festivals going on, whether you are on vacation or staycation. Get to know some of the region’s artists by attending events in the area.
And don’t just look- buy something! Your impulse is trying to tell you something. Say no to mass produced décor from Homesense and take home a true original. Start a collection of small works without wondering where you’ll put them- you’ll find creative ways to showcase your treasures. You can prop them against a bookshelf or create an eclectic jumble display with other mementoes in the front hall. If you love art, live with it!
Perhaps you’ve never participated in an Art Bomb auction. Make it a summer resolution to bid on some works you love and start or grow your collection of art. Art Bomb is an important initiative because it curates a wide selection of Canadian creativity and helps showcase us beyond the confines of local traffic. Our work is exposed cross-country and internationally.
Today we chat with Maggie Screaton, a collector who has regularly acquired pieces through Art Bomb’s daily auctions.
Lorette for Art Bomb: Tell me a little bit about the pieces you’ve selected from Art Bomb.
Maggie Screaton: I’ve bought five pieces from Art Bomb. Mostly smaller works- some amazing acrylics on canvas and one incredible photography. For some reason, I gravitate to the pieces that are like snippets of a bigger story. There’s a beginning and an ending in there somewhere but you can’t quite figure it out. The not knowing is kind of fun.
Lorette: What is your impression of Art Bomb? What do you like about this service, and how does that contrast with other resources you have collected through?
Maggie: I love that Art Bomb encourages you to interact with artists you might never come across. And I also like that I can kind of mull over any purchase a b it. I’ve bought works at shows and art fairs and there’s always this pressure to make an immediate decision. You can do that with some pieces, because you just have to have them. But sometimes it’s nice to be able to really check out a work before deciding to bid. And of course, it’s always fun when you win the auction. Art Bomb is great if you’re even the slightest bit competitive.
Lorette: What are the benefits, in your opinion, of Art Bomb for artists and collectors? Any drawbacks?
Maggie: The benefits can be huge. Art Bomb connects artists and buyers in a really convenient, hassle free way. I get amazing art by new and established Canadian artists in my email box every day and artists get their work viewed by a Canada-wide audience of proven buyers. It’s kind of a no-brainer.
Lorette C. Luzajic is an Art Bomb artist working in mixed media like acrylic, gouache, spray paint, collage, and photography. She is also a poet and the editor of The Ekphrastic Review. Visit her at www.mixedupmedia.ca.
