While on vacation in 2005, Beth Medoway, an art lover and collector, was inspired by the Danish art collaborative 20/20 Visions, and came home to Philadelphia eager to start her own version of this unique association. In the spring of 2006, long time friend Colleen Hammond, artist and art educator, joined forces with Ms. Medoway and acted as the production force to begin taking steps to establish their business A Square Deal. Taking advantage of their ties with local artists, Beth & Colleen were able to host their first exhibition in December 2006, which featured approximately 40 artists, at a small popular café in South Philly. Since then ASD has gathered a roster of over 100 artists, both emerging and established, who have all agreed to create art within a small square format.
The basics of the project are this: artists are provided with a set of 6 primed 20cm Masonite squares which when completed are then returned to ASD for exhibit. An opening reception offering light fare & refreshments begins each monthly show. On occasion a show will be extended and the display will be rotated to ensure adequate exposure of the diverse works on hand. The cost of work ranges between $40 and $400. The money made from purchased squares is divided among the artist, ASD, the venue at which the piece is sold & a charity of the venue’s choosing. To date, ASD has given gifts to a civic association, a local community arts group, and a small respite center serving HIV/AIDS-affected families.
ASD’s mission is to make art more affordable and accessible and to demonstrate that it can be an integral part of everyone’s daily life; to broaden the artist’s exposure beyond gallery walls and website pages, and to encourage and support the visual arts by involving local non-profits in its production and display, and in turn having those organizations benefit from its sales.
ASD does not wish to compete with any other artistic venue (i.e., galleries, co-ops) or impede in the pricing or sale of larger works in any way. Rather, ASD is trying to get more people to visit galleries and museums, to appreciate art, and purchase more of it. ASD is about placing small work in markets that artists may not normally be able to reach. It's a way to draw people to art that they may never get a chance to see otherwise. And in the process ASD also gets to support small local businesses and nonprofits that help make our communities better places to live.
For more information contact squareartdeal@yahoo.com.
