Benefit Four: Responsibiltiy and Committment to the Co-Op Gallery Experience by Karrie Ross

August 10, 2010
Karrie Ross, Los Angeles Fine Artist

“The more you give the more comes your way.”

A series by Artist Karrie Ross from her point of view. Reprinted with her permission.

Responsibility and Commitment: without these two qualities, where are you? Not to far along in following your dreams I would suspect. Remember, You make it happen. When you are a part of a co-op gallery or group you accept the responsibility to participate, to help it grow and expand. From the moment your name is posted, you supply a bio, images of your art, your email, you start getting notices and you respond … this action grows over time and as you respond more there becomes more to respond to… but without your commitment and feeling of being responsible to respond… nothing happens… you are just a blob. Being a member, a part of a greater community… brings into your life the quality of having and giving from another perspective.

Here are thoughts for being responsible and committed:

  • Stepping up to the challenge: Think positive thoughts. Start slowly if you have to, get a feeling for the general membership and group and figure out where you fit, where the skills you have will make the biggest difference.
  • Supporting the cause: if there is a need, speak up, take the challenge and do it… whether its changing a sitting date or volunteering for some part of a project… start getting your energy moving in the right direction… and by participating with a group your energy is no longer alone… it has support and gets recharged.
  • We’re in this together: the more you join in the more you are joined… the value from what you’ll learn and gain by doing your part will be returned in volume in different ways. Sometimes giving is just a matter of speaking your expertise about how to do something or making a referral.

For me, “it”, life,  doesn’t work without commitment… being responsible for your own success and goodwill.

Have you thought about joining a community in your area or starting one? Be sure to check out your local opportunities… you’ll be glad you did… the benefit will be amazing!

Come visit us at the gallery or keep up with what we’re doing. Sign up for our mailing list on the right.
Karrie Ross, Los Angeles Fine Artist

Karrie Ross is a Los Angeles Fine Artist who writes about the fine art business and process. She is available for educational panel discussions on her fine art and process. Her artwork is available for solo or group show opportunities. Please contact her at contact for more information.
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Benefit Three: Gallery Artists need to know how to be Business People too! by Karrie Ross

August 4, 2010

Karrie Ross, Los Angeles Fine Artist

“It’s not just the art that keeps the gallery going.”

A series by Artist Karrie Ross from her point of view. Reprinted with her permission.

Learning how to Run A Business: Being a part of a Co-op Gallery we all get to learn about the back-end of running the business.  This involves organizing the member participation, making sure the gallery is occupied during business hours, scheduling the solo, group, juried and special monthly shows; general business and bookkeeping and artist payments; organizing call-for-entries submissions; advertising, publicity, promotion… and a lot more. After awhile, everyone just seems to find their place and step-up into what needs to be done. Being part of a community, helping it move along, helps create a positive energy that supports its efforts.

Here are some parts that help make it run smoothly:

  • The Galley Book: There is a three-ring binder presented to each new member and includes the members contact list, how to write up a sale, what to do when sitting the gallery, how to secure a solo show, where to send PR notices for each event or solo show …and more.
  • Member Participation: each member is given an orientation of how and what to do to be a part of the gallery. And each member just learns to step-up when needed, this helps form the bond of a community that is successful.
  • Member Roles: we have a president, treasure and secretary as well as committees that help run the gallery events, such as: monthly shows, show hanging, studio tour, public relations, ad placement, website maintenance and any others that are needed.
  • Yahoo! Groups or Google Groups: this is a must have for any group that needs to keep in touch and encourage member participation. This way the group is always on the same page for each event or for sending out call-for-entry notices.

Have you thought about joining a community in your area or starting one? The next benefit I’ll talk about is the Responsibility / Commitment aspect of the co-op gallery.

Come visit us at the gallery or keep up with what we’re doing. Sign up for our mailing list on the right.
Karrie Ross, Los Angeles Fine Artist

Karrie Ross is a Los Angeles Fine Artist who writes about the fine art business and process. She is available for educational panel discussions on her fine art and process. Her artwork is available for solo or group show opportunities. Please contact her at contact for more information.

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TCG @ the Glendale Open Studio Tour

July 24, 2010

Carmen Cohen

Artists Robyn Feeley, Fae Horowitz, Carmen Monne and Felice Willat represented the gallery at the Glendale Open Studio Tour. In addition to participating in the event, Robyn, Carmen, Debbi and Felice have a piece of art hanging at the Brand Gallery through August 13th. But, let’s talk about today!

Our set up was top notch! The work was a nice representation and attracted many.
Carmen and Felice were chatted up by the former head of the Glendale Culture Department.  A number of visitors inquired about Fae’s Artographs as well. However, there was a hiccup with the bus system and since our lovely park location was away from the hub, we got few visitors. Robyn sold “Dancing in the Moonlight” …but if we were paid for laughing, we all would have made millions!

Between Carmen’s stories, all of our “senior” moments, last minute made up titles of art…Felice’s flat tire, and the grand finale? Death of the orange cone by Carmen Monne and the lovely young man that rescued it from beneath Carmen’s van. Laughter that brought tears…was worth every minute of the day!

What’s next?  One never knows with this fantastic artist cooperative!  Get ready for “Welcome to Our House”…Bird show / Fundraiser for the Birds at the                                                                Nature of Wildworks 501c3…more to come…

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Exhibition: Way of Clay

July 18, 2010

Topanga Canyon Gallery has several shows throughout the year that offers non-members the opportunity to submit their art. “Way of Clay” is one of those opportunities.

Organized by member Rebecca Catteral and curated by Melody Cooper, this is a show full of creative 3D visuals.

From an art sculpture of a woman in a twig boat by Hadiya Finley to chainlink fence panels filled with free form tile squares by Susan Nissman or multiple useful vessels of cups, tea pot and vases. The show is a hit.

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Participating artists are: Frank Massarella, Farideh Azad, Rebecca Catteral, Robyn Feeley, Dina Finzi, Joan Gambert, Bob Harris, Lynette Mathis, Susan Nissman, Megan Rice, Charles Singer, Jacqueline Stanford, Jim Sullivan and Kimberlina Whettam.

To Read and See more of the work….click read more! Read More »

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Sitting the Gallery on a Sunday by Karrie Ross

May 17, 2010

As a member of the gallery each artist spends  8 hours a month sitting the space and welcoming guests. This is a part that I love as I get to have some very interesting conversations. Since I don’t live in the canyon I also like the drive up the coast. I usually get to see something interesting. This day I saw a VW Club on an outing. Such fun!

This past Sunday there were about 17 visitors to the Gallery. The current front space show is “Cars and Guitars” by John Adams (Cars) and Carol Hernandez (Guitars, Fender).  Two men came in for the Guitars, they said they have a friend coming in late June from England, they took a card for reference. There also was a couple who are remodeling their home and came in for a look at the artwork and jotted down some artists names for their designer to research.

The back space was looking good with new art monthly from participating artist members. Each month we have the opportunity to place a new piece for visitors to see. There are many that come in to see this as they collect some of our artists work. This also is a great space for buying those birthday or anniversary presents for family and friends.

We have our annual Studio Tour coming up June 12 & 13 with the reception and silent auction on Saturday night June 15 from 5-8. This s when you can purchase a 8×8 painting by one of the artists in the Tour. Here is what the wall looks like so far. This weekend is well attended. There are about 50 artists on the tour this year… come join the fun! Check out the gallery for more information http://www.topangacanyongallery.com I hope to see you there, I’ll be at space #11.

Come visit us or keep up with what we’re doing. Sign up for the mailing list on the right.
Karrie Ross  Los Angeles Fine Artist

Karrie Ross is a Los Angeles Fine Artist who writes about the fine art business and process. She is available for educational panel discussions on fine art and process. Her artwork is available for solo or group show opportunities. Please contact her for more information.
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