Prepping for an Installation at a Local Restaurant

Recently, I applied to have my work displayed at a local coffee and bagel shop here in Eureka, California called Frankie's NY Bagels. It's a charming shop that happens to be on our local fairgrounds/racetrack where a lot of events are held. 

They'd put out a call on Instagram that was shared with me (I can't remember how) and I was accepted! My work will be displayed for six months over the summer, from April to September. 

Frankie's NY Bagels is known in part because of the art on their walls. They have lots of wall space they subdivide between multiple artists at the same time. When you have your bagel sandwich, you can comfortably peruse all the art as well! It's a gay and family friendly space that really promotes local events with fliers and posters all over the room. They get about 1,000 patrons a week, and last year alone they sold 471 pieces of art right off their walls. 

I am really really lucky I was selected this time around. I know there are a LOT of really good artists in this part of California, and as a beginner this is a good opportunity for me. 

So I plunked down $500 on frames to make it happen. I have to take a photo of my hypothetical wall display to have it approved, and then it will be up to my husband Jonathan and I to get it installed at the end of March. They're hoping to have it all ready to go at the beginning of April. 

I plan on selling a lot of local-themed art, leaning heavily on the bird pieces I've made since moving to the area a year ago and the Art Nouveau-styled pieces that are regionally inspired. I also plan to throw in a few fairytale pieces, and we'll see how those go. 

These will all be signed and numbered limited edition prints that I've made and sold before. I'm trying to include the ones that sell the most, but I've generated a LOT of new work since last summer so I'm a bit torn... It's going to be a bit of a challenge to make choices. I don't plan on selling any greeting cards unless they ask me to, at which point I'll have to get some wall-mounted display racks for them.

The good thing is that if anything actually sells, I can perhaps rotate different pieces in. We'll see how it goes. And if things don't sell, I still have frames that I can use for other display opportunities at other shops. Frankie's only takes a 12% commission, too. It's... a gift, honestly. The whole situation is a gift. 

And I am incredibly excited. I want to do it well. Knowing that my work will be seen by a lot of folks who may come to the various events there as well is also simply astounding. At the very least, I will be getting my name out there. And that's a plus. A very big plus!

I'll share pics as we get it all installed by the end of the month. At this point, I have title cards to make for each piece, and an Artist Statement to frame!

Woohoo! Onward!