C4W: 2013 // Juror Talk

MINNEAPOLIS – Thursday, Nov. 14, 7:00 p.m. – Ash Marlene Hane, Nathaniel Smith and Jesse Draxler are hard working members of the local art community.  They curated the current exhibit at Gamut Gallery, “C4W: 2013,” the annual call for works show.  As jurors for C4W and as exhibiting artists themselves, they will discuss logistics for artists getting their work shown in galleries. As artists building careers in the arts, they will discuss the current climate of the arts in Minnesota.

It has been nearly a year since Smith wrote his three part series “Art & Vision: The State of the Arts” for “l’etoile magazine.” In the series, both Hane and Draxler became part of Smith’s public discourse, critiquing the health and direction of Minnesota’s art community. The Juror Talk will be a chance to discuss recent updates and developments.  It will also cover Smith’s basic premise for a healthy “Arts Ecosystem,” as inspired by 1960’s revolutionary gallerist Walter Hopps’. The jurors will discuss the delicate balance between artists, galleries, critics, museums and art collectors; as well as a wealth of practical advice for artists. Attendees will have a chance to discuss controversial theories about money in the arts and to learn about more effective ways to support the arts for people in various walks of life.

Nathaniel Smith is a visual artist, arts writer and curator based in Minneapolis, MN. He was the founder and Director of The FUTURE PRESENCE Gallery, which was awarded several Best New Gallery 2011 and Best Arts Exhibition of the Year 2012 awards during its one-and-half year run. He is the Arts Editor at l’étoile magazine (Art & Vision column), the blog editor at Beautiful/Decay, and regularly contributes to mnartists.org, MPR and other publications. Smith will open his next venture, a small-group focused commercial gallery titled NIGHT Galleries, in 2014.

Ash Marlene Hane’s recent print media work combines photographic elements with interpretive figure drawing. She holds a 2008 art history and studio art degree, with a printmaking focus, from the University of Minnesota. She has exhibited nationally and solo at Gamut Gallery in 2013.  She has been published by Southern Graphics Council International, Mid America Print Council and on Printeresting: North American print arts blog. She was recently awarded the Metropolitan Regional Art Council’s Next Step Fund grant and will show solo at the Familia Skate Shop Nov. 2013.

Jesse Draxler is an illustrator, graphic designer and a fine artist, focusing on collage.  He was recently named one of the Walker Art Center, MN artist blogs “Ten Artists to Watch in 2013.”  He has exhibited nationally and internationally, with solo shows locally at HAUS and Umber Studio and in Los Angeles at SNP Gallery and Plaid Studio.  He has been published in numerous publications such as Fine Line, Working Class and Bolo in 2011, and in the book “The Age of Collage” in 2013.