Justin Jenkins 03 Feb 2005

I got invited this year and last year. Seems to be nice exposure in terms of the grand prize which is the medici medal. Only problem i had was the $1,400.00 entry fee. I decided to pass on it but may show in the future. Seems like a decent venue since Prince Charles showed his work there and Hockney was the guest speaker last year.

Tess Dunhagen 03 Feb 2005

my god they charge 1400 dollars just to go there. And then I have to pay hotel and food my self on top of that. Do they think we are rich or something......

Justin Jenkins 03 Feb 2005

yes....

David Díez 03 Feb 2005

If you were rich no need to be there...

Tess Dunhagen 03 Feb 2005

so u think prince C is poor then

Justin Jenkins 03 Feb 2005

Hey Tess im pretty sure you've been here but this is the link about the exhibition:

http://www.florencebiennale.org/home_eng.htm

Tess Dunhagen 03 Feb 2005

cheers, I am not the artist I am only the artist rep. And I dont want to send him to Florenc if its no good.

Bluemoonshadow 03 Feb 2005

Thom Roslan and I will be participating this December...:-)

I haven't had any luck finding a sponsor yet, but I plan on getting there... not going to miss this one..

Cheers,

Blue

cramer 03 Feb 2005

wow sounds like quite a show...never heard of it before...maybe in the future ill be invited and be good enough and have that much money to put on the line **dreams**

Justin Jenkins 03 Feb 2005

Cramer anyone can be juried for free i believe. Go to the link above then theres a place where you can send them a link to your portfolio..use AW if u want. They may choose you if they like what they see??? you never know? They basically stumbled onto my website and i received an acceptance package in the mail one day. Try it and see...

Melissa Bond 04 Feb 2005

Several students from TTU, including myself, were invited. However, the art department did some research on the exhibit as the cost is extremely costly to participate. Found out that it is not a selective exhibit. They were told directly by an organizer of the event that 90% of artists are accepted, they must accept that many because only a little less than half of those actually participate.

It has a reputation as the world's largest art fair in Italy. That's pretty much what it is. You are paying for your own exposure and placement in the gallery. Big name artists and celebrities are also invited...and are considered special guests (which we took to mean...they don't have to pay. That question went unanswered). They have priority placement while the others are assigned to a wall per genre, size, or medium.

There was one student that participated a couple years ago. He said it was fun, but a big event. So big..that everyone was focused mainly on the 'VIP art'. He said so many awards were given that it didn't make any pieces stand out. He was also miffed because his piece was next to a really bad piece with the frame broken (saw a pic...it was bad). He overheard one artist complaining because they installed her artwork..upside down...making it look odd. Even though he thought the exhibit was just like something you would see at a state fair (with the exception of the vip artists), he said mingling with the other artists and seeing Florence was worth it. However, he said he will not do it again, because during the time he was there...they had smaller galleries offering considerably less cost to no cost to show artworks of those in the art show that were attracting traffic. In the end, he said it was an art show , not an exhibit or salon. He said it has potential to be like a conference for artists to mingle and learn, pick up some new gadgets for art, see some famous works. Other than that, he stated "an overpriced vanity fair".

In the end, after research, our school coined it as an expo/conference for vanity...not a selective exhibit for showcasing talent...so the school removed all communication from the company to the students on campus. Seems like every student on campus and artists locally are receiving the acceptance package (some twice).

Personally, I am not participating. The organizer the school spoke with made it clear...it was not juried. Anyone who pays the fee to have their work put on display is put on the wall... for me...that was enough said.

I do know of a few students that found galleries that will be displaying artwork (selective) for a small cost to NO cost during the event. Apparently, they bring in residual traffic from from the art show...apparently word spreads fast to the tourists of the smaller galleries and they go through the entire city looking at art. A lot of advertisements during this time are available at the hotels and on the streets promoting other venues. One student mentioned that a hotel gave her a discount for being featured in a gallery sponsored by the hotel (not the biennale). I can get you that info from her.

I also have some info on some salons in Paris that are less expensive (considerably so...just an entry fee), juried, and with great exposure that some students are looking into for 2006. I only have info for next year as that is when I am planning on going, but this year there is still time on some of them...I think.

Justin Jenkins 04 Feb 2005

I had a feeling it was a juiced up "art fair" type venue. Glad i elected to hold off until i got much more feedback. Thanks Melissa (:

Martha Yokawonis 04 Feb 2005

Yeah thanks Melissa for the rundown. I have a friend (artist) on ebay who has done the Florence biennale but she, Manuela Valenti, actually knew some gallery people there so she had a good time and it was productive for her.

I sent an email to them anyway just because it will make me feel great to have some unknown Florentine look at my portfolio. I can't spend 1400.00 plus getting there and housing but, hey at least i was invited, right?

cramer 04 Feb 2005

thanx for the info on this event...i wonder if i can get invited..hmmm....i dont wanna partisapte..i just wanna see if i can get accepted

Tess Dunhagen 05 Feb 2005

thank you everybody, If I can get someone to sponsor I might go. Hang on a minute. Maybe we should try to do something about the fee. It seems to me like it is a money scam. Why not try to stir in the shit a bit (sorry) In the end of the day, this is a show for artists around the world to show there art. Asking for a small fee I can understand but asking for a small fortune is wrong. Artists are poor. But what could we do??????? Probably nothing it just pisses me of. Iam sorry I am swedish so my language is bad. I shall think about this, do some research. I am off now to save the world...........

Martha Yokawonis 05 Feb 2005

yeah cramer i'm with you. Like the eye shot. I've tryed photgraphing myself but it never works out. How do you like being a co chairman of your art fest, anyway?

cramer 05 Feb 2005

martha...im really excited about it...the show doesnt start till summer so...and spring show isnt till march so i have some time...i did get a box full of files though...still confused lol

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