Richmond’s first contemporary art fair is hitting the scene on October 20. Current is a brain child of several local gallery owners and directors including 1708 Gallery, ADA gallery, Candela Books + Gallery, Glave Kocen Gallery, Page Bond Gallery, Quirk Gallery, and Reynolds Gallery.
Richmond’s first contemporary art fair is hitting the scene on October 20. Current is a brain child of several local gallery owners and directors including 1708 Gallery, ADA gallery, Candela Books + Gallery, Glave Kocen Gallery, Page Bond Gallery, Quirk Gallery, and Reynolds Gallery.
With VCU’s new Institute for Contemporary Art being built, and the ever-growing art interest in Richmond, the contemporary art scene is gaining a following in the city according to Caroline Wright, one of the coordinators of Current.
“They thought it was the time not only to celebrate that but also to encourage people to gather around these galleries and hopefully discover gallery programs they have never seen before and support ones they already are aware of,” Wright said.
The Current project has been in the works for over a year and the name was a key part of making this art fair very Richmond-centric.
“It gave the fair an identity,” Wright said, noting the name not only refers to the “current” in the local James River but also suggests something new and relevant.
“We wanted a name with a Richmond identity,” she said. “When all of these galleries came together to create this art fair, they were think of creating an event that in a sense, created a bit of a spark and renew interest.”
Current will include works from a variety of from local, new emerging and internationally renowned artists as well as art made specifically for the fair. Additionally, highlights from some gallery’s past shows will also be available.
Alyssa Solomon, chair of the board at Studio Two Three as well as a participating artist in Current, said there is a lack of art fairs present starting from D.C. all the way through the South Eastern coast states but Current hopes to fix that.
“It’s a model that has worked in many other place but it’s definitely got a Richmond feel to it. Bringing this idea here, it’s very think global, act local,” Solomon said. “Right down to the Shepard Fairey logo.”
Solomon will be debuting her new body of work, Animal Land, at the event this weekend. She said she’d been working with Candela Gallery to contextualize her newest work in collaboration with Anne Wright and VCU’s Rice River Center.
A range of art will be showcased at Current. Including abstract art all the way to documentary photography. You’ll be able to experience large and small scale works as well as printmaking.
“Current provides a step between going to First Fridays (or even to an opening) and going to the galleries on a regular day,” Solomon said. “An art fair should be like a well-designed mall – and I mean that in a really good way. It’s a chance to see and think about a lot of artwork at one time in an environment where seeing the art is the main point.
“At Current you’ll encounter oodles of artwork and talk to the artists that make and the galleries that sell about what is on offer.”
Current is not only for experienced art collectors, even if you don’t have any intention of starting your art collection just yet, they are encouraging everyone to come out and share the experience.
“What we hope to see is that people who come to the art fair discover a new gallery and a new artist and then continue to follow after the at fair happens,” said Wright. “That they discover a gallery and a program that they then want to go visit in its space at a different time of the year.”
Current will also be a haven of knowledge for someone who is just stepping foot into the art scene. Folks are encouraged to come with open curiosity and ask questions. Wright described the scene as an open-ended forum where folks will be able to find out more for themselves to contribute both to their artistic knowledge and practice.
“We want people to start thinking differently about how they can be involved,” she said. “And of course, participation at an art scene doesn’t mean you have to buy something.”
The fair will be littered with all of the gallery owners all weekend to provide answers and insight into the art.
While this is the first year that Current will be representing Richmond, there are high hopes for it to be a reoccurring event so if you miss this year keep an eye out for the future.
Current will begin with begin with a preview Thursday evening at Hohman Design, October 20, 6-9 pm. Tickets are $50 and you can get them here. Thursday’s preview will feature live music by Thomas Wakefield and Gypsy Roots.
Current is open to the public for free Friday through Sunday at Hohman Design in Scotts Addition from 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (5:00 p.m. on Sunday). On Friday live music will include Andrew Alli and Josh Small from 6 – 9 pm. In addition to the multitude of art presented, Current will feature local food trucks as well as a wine and beer garden.
There is a variety of activities that are also happening in addition to the fair as well.
On Saturday at 3:00 p.m. and is free to the public. Mickael Broth will be leading a Saturday Art Walk that will start at Current and go through Scott’s Addition. You may recognize Broth’s name from his most famous pieces around Richmond including his work at Mellow Mushroom, his Bernie Sanders mural, and the newly painted water tower atop the Cookie Factory Lofts building. Brother is regarded as a prominent muralist in the city.
Saturday evening will also include an after Party at Studio Two Three from 9 p.m. to midnight and will include a live DJ, beer and wine, and screen printing.
For more information, visit Current’s website here http://www.currentrichmond.com
