The Concept of Merging Business With Art
The El Cajon Invitational Art Exhibits feature a well attended reception, and that is achieved by asking each artist to bring 15 to 20 guests . . . including potential buyers . . . to the artist's receptions. Potential buyers are people who have purchased art before. They have art in their home or office right now, and will most likely purchase art again. Collectively, the artists will bring 200 to 300 people to see all of the art exhibited. This is a considerable amount of exposure for each individula artist. And in return, exhibiting artists are expected to bring their share of the guests . . . That's the concept, and it works very well . . .
The exhibits are about promoting a genuine opportunity to display and sell good art. To do this, artists are asked to invite friends, relatives, neighbors, etc. to the reception to show off their work . . . and also concentrate on getting some potential buyers to attend. A primary objective of the exhibit is selling art . . . there are no ribbons or prizes.
East County Business Center owner, Lee Mench, has two major objectives for the St. Clair Gallery. First, the gallery is to be a vehicle to promote the East County Business Center by attracting different people to the building and making them aware of its location, facilities, tenant base, and the services the ECBC offers, which is not only rentable office space. By presenting the work of different artists and sponsoring receptions that include as guests their circle of clients, friends, etc., people from many areas of the city are brought to the gallery and become aware of the ECBC. Also, the gallery is a plus in terms of providing a warm, cultural atmosphere that adds to the attractiveness of the ECBC from a tenants and clients point of view. A gallery with a continual flow of art and artists helps to separate the ECBC from other buildings.
A second objective is to enhance the presence of fine art in the community; provide a venue for seasoned and emerging artists to exhibit; offer art as a catalyst for bringing the people of the community together; and allowing sales opportunities for artist.
Artists who employ fine art disciplines effectively and present their work professionally are sought. A track record of success in terms of awards and sales is expected.
The St. Clair Gallery enjoys the reputation of a gallery that presents high quality, attractive exhibits with a wide variety of art styles and mediums represented and presented professionally, and affords genuine sales opportunities for artists. At this time, Invitational Exhibits that draw the widest possible range of guests to the gallery are planned throughout 2009. An artist wishing to exhibit may contact the Gallery Director for consideration of how their art compliments the objectives of the ECBC, the gallery, and the other invited artists.