VCON'S ART SHOW IS LEGENDARY.
People have met and married because of our art show. Seriously! No kidding!
Each year we feature the work of a specially chosen Artist Guest of Honour whose work we proudly display in our gallery. This guest may be chosen because their work dovetails precisely with our convention theme, or because the art show director has begged relentlessly and unashamedly on bended knee. In either case, con members will definitely be treated to works of wonder.
In the past few years we have gathered into our gallery as many as 45 artists and artisans displaying works of sculpture, jewelry, stained glass, ceramic and pottery, wall art in acrylic, oils, pencil and ink. We have even enjoyed the work of an Ironworker Welder with a weird and whimsical sense of humour.
Our motto is FEAR NO ART! We do not jury work, except to ensure that it fits into some portion of our genre, be that hard science fiction, fantasy, outer space vistas, manga, horror, or gaming characterizations. All artists no matter their age, background, training, or standing, are encouraged to join us, show us where their head is, and invite us to take a look.
Are you an artist whose work you think we can’t live without? Feel free to contact the VCON Art Show Director, Rose Wilson, at: arts{click-to-expand}@vcon.ca . Send her a sample or two or your work, just so she can see what you are doing.
Or, do you know someone who might just be too shy to contact us themselves. Again, send Rose some kind of a contact and she will get in touch with them.
VCON members are very knowledgeable about their art. They prove this each year by attending and supporting those who show in our Gallery and the auction on Sunday.
Help us continue to support the local artistic community by planning to attend the Gallery and auction during VCON 37 when our Artist Guest of Honour will be JAMES NG.
Sections:
Art Show Hours |
What is Art? |
We are Non-Pornographic | We Award Prizes | Registering as an Exhibiting Artist | General Information for Artists | Artshow Auction
What is Art?
This is a non-juried art show and all types of art, within the parameters set out are welcome. Items may include sketches, paintings, castings, etchings, multi-media pieces and sculptures of all types including cast metals. To qualify for entry into the exhibit and auction, works must speak to and reflect either a science fiction or fantasy theme. As much as we appreciate still-life studies, for example, the still-life must be within the genre. Get daring! Present a still-life form the year 3010, show us what life then will look like. Prepare a 3-D representation of hats we will all wear in our future. Show us your version of what to expect. Or what was real. Or what could be real. Use your imagination and wow us.
We are Non-Pornographic
There is a real difference between "brass bra" and porno. The decision of the Art Show staff will be final. No piece we consider libelous is allowed. Plagiaristic work is not allowed. If the artwork features a character not that of the artist, the originator of the character must be credited. For example, a Disney character must be labeled "copyright Disney". Any work of a defamatory nature will not be hung.
We Award Prizes!
Each year we ask our Artist Guest of Honour, our venerable Auctioneer Steve Fahnestalk and a third juror to roam the art show and choose ribbon award winners in the following categories:
- BEST USE OF COLOUR
- BEST BLACK AND WHITE
- MOST HUMOROUS
- BEST USE OF THEME
- BEST 3-D
- BEST BODY OF WORK
All convention attendees are invited to vote for their favourite and we award the following ribbon and prize package that changes each year:
- FAN CHOICE
And finally, we invite our Author and Artist Guests of Honour to award ribbons to their favourites.
We invite all participants to keep these categories in mind when preparing their exhibits. Previous years winners have proudly proclaimed the win on their websites.
| Award | Winner | |
|---|---|---|
| BEST BODY OF WORK | NANCIE GREEN | |
| BEST USE OF COLOUR | MARGUERITE STONEHOUSE | |
| MOST HUMOROUS | TAMMY ROUTLEY for her "Symbiosis" series | |
| BEST USE OF THEME | DAN O’DRISCOLL for "Riposte" | |
| BEST 3-D | HEIKE KAPP for the marble "Chthullu" | |
| BEST BLACK AND WHITE | NANCIE GREEN for "In a Dream" | |
| AUTHOR GUEST CHOICE | SCULPTING MENTOR statue "ALIEN" | |
| ARTIST GUEST CHOICE |
|
FAN CHOICE this year went to NANCIE GREEN who also impressed our Judges.
The judges were desirous of supporting artists and encouraging them to continue in their study and investigation into art. To this end, they awarded:
- KATRINA KELLEWAY – a sketch book to work on until next year when we hope to see her again.
- ANGELA BUECKERT – the same, with an invitation to go farther in her work.
- FRANK LEVIN – a set of acrylic and oil paints in thanks for his imaginative work in ceramics as an invitation to try something different.
- DANIELLE STEPHENS – so wowed the judges with her sense of humour and attention to detail, she may have her pick of the goody box.
Registering as an Exhibiting Artist
WELCOME TO YOUR ONE STOP
REGISTRATION SPOT!
Something new to VCON last year and to the Art Show this year is registration by Eventbrite. Further down in this section you will see a grid providing art show space reservation and payment options. It is so simple now, everything is right on line, and payment options include PayPal, major credit cards and personal cheque.
Choose the space you need to show with us: a single panel, several panels, a table, 1/2-table and a panel, etc. Everything right at your finger tips. If what you want is not there, drop a message to the VCON Art Show Director at arts{click-to-expand}@vcon.ca and make your request. Everything is doable.
Artists who have shown with VCON in the past are invited to complete the simple online registration and payment options form. Within a week, you will receive by email all necessary inventory forms and bid sheets. Those forms must be completed and brought with you on hanging night.
Artists who have never before shown with VCON MUST forward a couple of samples of the work they wish to show to the VCON Art Show Director at arts{click-to-expand}@vcon.ca . Again, we do not jury work for skill level, and we do not care if the artist is a professional illustrator or weekend sketcher, we are looking only for adherence to the genre. You will receive a response within a few days.
Online Registration
Reservations will be accepted on Eventbrite up to September 25, 2012. After that, please contact the VCON Art Show Director, at arts{click-to-expand}@vcon.ca to make arrangements.
If you are having any trouble at all in completing the online art show reservation form, please contact the VCON webmaster for assistance at webm{click-to-expand}@vcon.ca .
Student artists are eligible for a 50% discount on all exhibit space. Students must show current student photo ID to the Art Show Director or her Assistant when hanging their art or they will be required to pay the remaining 50% for the standard rate. Student artists who arrange to mail in art for exhibit must include a scan or photocopy of their ID with their art shipment.
To take advantage of this student discount offer follow these steps:
- Select the exhibit space you wish to reserve.
- At the bottom of the form click the Enter Discount Code link located immediately above the Order Now button.
You should now see the text "If you have a discount code, enter it here:" followed by an empty text box and an Apply Discount button) - Enter the word STUDENT into the text box.
- Click the Apply Discount button
- Click Order Now to continue the registration process.
We accept payment via PayPal or BY CHEQUE!
If you wish to pay by cheque, please do the following:
- Select the tickets you wish to purchase and click the Order Now button
- Fill in the Registration Information form
- At the bottom of the form, click the Show link
(This link is found just below the text Other Payment Options that appears beneath the Check out with PayPal button.) - Note the mailing instructions that are now displayed and then click the Pay By Check button that is now visible
- Send us your cheque, along with your full name and the email address you specified when registering.
The Art Show Reservation Form for VCON 37 is not yet available.
As usual, Artists exhibiting in the Art Show are not required to purchase memberships to the convention in order to hang work. That said, we certainly encourage all our artists to consider attending the convention. If you have never attended a convention before and would like to start off slow we recommend you come by on Saturday – traditionally the busiest and best day of the convention – and purchase a one day membership at the door. For the more adventurous, you can also register for a full weekend membership through Eventbrite right here:
The Online Membership Registration Form for VCON 37 is not yet available.
General Information for Artists
Table and Panel Sizes
Panels are 4 feet square peg board. We supply all necessary hanging pegs. VCON assumes no liability for hanging of art works and recommend that works be properly matted or protected for hanging.
Tables are 8 feet by 3 feet and are provided with a white table cloth. Artists are invited to show their works to their best advantage on that space through the use of risers, coloured cloths or other methods as they deem necessary.
Print Shop
Once again we are pleased to offer a Print Shop area. There is no fee to show prints in the shop, but the 10% sales commission will apply. We ran out of space last year in this area and strongly recommend that you request inclusion very soon. We allow only 5 repeats of each print.
Artists must note: We highly recommend you protect your prints with some shrink wrap method. Every precaution is taken to ensure prints are properly handled by art show attendees, but again, the art show assumes no liability for damaged prints.
See the Eventbrite registration form above and choose Print Shop. Again, you will receive the necessary inventory and price sheets by return email.
Unclaimed Panel, Table or Print Shop Space
Reserved space not claimed by 8 pm, Thursday, September 27, 2012 will be allocated to an other artist, either waiting or currently registered, UNLESS other arrangements have been made in advance with the Art Show Director. There will be no refund for such unclaimed reserved space.
Hanging Time
All art must be hung by noon on Friday, September 28, 2012, unless prior arrangements have been made. If the artist does not have a convention membership, they must be accompanied by an art show staff member to hang and retrieve their art.
Mailed-In Art
Yes, we are most happy to accept mailed-in art and will ensure it is properly displayed on you panel or table. To make the necessary arrangements, the artists is requested to contact the art show director at arts{click-to-expand}@vcon.ca noting in the subject line MAIL IN REQUEST. She will contact you and make all the necessary arrangements.
Payment to Artists
Artists will be paid, wherever possible in cash on sale day. A complete inventory of pieces sold, prices paid and deductions made will be provided within 10 days of the sale date.
Artists not in attendance will be mailed cheques in full payment along with a detailed statement of pieces sold and deductions made within 10 days of sale date.
Artshow Auction
There will be a live auction on SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 at 2:00pm. Works with 2 bids will go to auction. Works with 1 bid are considered sold to that bidder. Pieces may be sold by direct sale, if conditions of the artist are met. These items will not be removed from the sale prior to close of the Art Show without the express approval and attendance of the Art Show Director. The Art Show staff reserves the right to void any bid they deem not legitimate.
Auction Rules
- Once a piece is entered in the auction, it may not be removed or withdrawn, nor may the conditions of sale be altered.
- Bidding increments will be in whole dollars only.
