Jib Strategic Marketing sponsored the Cult Classics Group Art Show at Hashtag Gallery this month, November 2014. Opening Night was Thursday 06 Nov 2014. The place was jammed from 7pm till 11:30pm when they stopped serving drinks at the bar. There were ninety three pieces of art, the creative product of thirty six artists who submitted work in accordance with the ‘Cult Classic’ theme.
Hashtag Gallery is located at 801 Dundas St W, where it was started in April of 2012. The name #Hashtag correctly implies that these gallery owners are social media savvy web citizens who use online tools to help build large communities to which they successfully promote their art shows and sales. Johnny Hollick and Graeme Luey have large personal followings and their gallery’s web presence grows before, during and after every show because of the work they do online on behalf of local artists and the Toronto art scene. These guys started the gallery with a mandate to discover and help foster new talent by issuing open calls to artists every three months.
The weather outside was horrible. It was a night of cold, wet November rain that punishes anyone who isn’t bundled up beyond recognition. Another barrier to entry and overall attendance was the fact that the street outside the venue is closed. The paved roadway has been commandeered by the Toronto Transit Commission as a construction equipment storage and assembly zone for streetcar track replacement work they’re doing around the corner on Bathurst.
Nikki is starting out meeting and greeting people by submitting work to galleries and local craft shows and conventions, always hoping to get press and expand her online business, one piece at a time
There are pieces of all sizes for sale in the gallery until Sunday Nov 9th 2014. All artwork is priced under $300, and the show was very typical in that it features works from both established and emerging artists who hope to get their artwork noticed.
Who Won Best in Show ?
Chris Austin’s Big Lebowski won the Best In Show designation and will be procured by Jib Strategic to hang in a position of honour in the office. Maybe this is a good piece for the office kitchen?
The picture to the right shows two pieces that Chris Austin submitted, the winner being the one on the left that shows John Goodman in the cult classic Big Lebowski role. The one on the right shows Johnny Depp playing Raoul Duke from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Incidentally the common denominator here is the yellow hunting glasses which is an effect that Chris has clearly mastered and uses to great affect in his work.
Of the 7,372 electronic votes cast, Chris’s piece earned the most, approx 2000 which was about 28% of all votes cast. This piece to be hung on the wall with care, here in the Jib Strategic office.