The display is showing at the Markham Theatre upper and lower lobby gallery (171 Town Center Blvd, Markham), and runs from December 28 through to January 30. Doors open from 11am to 6pm. Admission to the gallery is free. Parking is also free!

Many thanks to a great crew of volunteers who helped make this event possible, including Robyn, Ana and Vera. Thanks to the many supporters and promoters of the Markham Art Collective. We appreciate being recognized for what we are doing for the visual artists in Markham and York Region. Thank you to the Markham Theatre, Dyan Broderick, Kim Michele, Linda Walesch, York Region Arts Council, Things To Do in York Region, Guiding Star and Easel Rentals.

Thanks also to the participating artists and photographers – your work certainly shines on the walls of the gallery. We look forward to meeting you at the Artist Reception on Saturday, January 14 from 2pm to 5pm.

If you are interested in purchasing any of the art pieces, please go to the Theatre Box Office for information.

On behalf of my family, I’d like to wish you and yours, a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!

The Markham Art Collective is continuing its steady momentum of supporting the art world. Being as visible as possible is the aim of self promotion in the competitive world of the arts.

We recently visited the Stouffville Studio Tour and met some interesting and friendly artists, some of whom signed on to our free Art Directory. Next stop was the Markham48 Studio Tour. Again new friends were made which led to me writing a review on a great artist service: Easel Rentals. During this time I went full steam into SEO (search engine optimization) mode and got the Markham Art Collective into high Google rankings. Through the use of Twitter, we garnered several ‘followers’, then came the Facebook Page and on to LinkedIn, where I created a discussion group.

Being endorsed by respected arts contacts such as Nancy Bodi, Executive Director of the York Region Arts Council, Helen Walter of Wilson Street Studios and many others goes to show that the time was ripe for a new player in the local art scene. I explained to Judi McIntyre, Chair of the York Region Arts Council, that we weren’t about to step on anyone’s toes. Instead, we are here to support artists with our virtual resource. And it’s working tremendously. Artists are posing questions and getting easy responses.

Our biggest coup to date is Debut, our first invitational art and photography exhibit, which will run from December 28, 2011 to January 30, 2012. An assortment of 28 artists and photographers from all over York Region will have their creativity on display at the Markham Theatre’s upper and lower lobby galleries.

Many of these artists have never exhibited together before which will make the Artist Reception an active event and one not to miss. The Reception will be held on January 14 from 2:00pm to 5:00pm and I encourage you to gather your friends and come and mingle with some hot creative talent. This event is generously sponsored by Dyan Broderick, Sales Representative from Sutton Group – Heritage Realty Inc Brokerage. We will be featuring special guest harpist, Kim Michele who will bring the ambiance to a comfortable level with her skillful playing.

A month or so old and the traffic to the website is consistent and stable, and with entries on social networks we are gathering new artists and interest on a daily basis. So when you have a moment, come and visit the website at www.markhamartcollective.com, you never know, there might be a source or a video that will help to make you get noticed.

see and be seen.

www.markhamartcollective.com

Markham Art Collective is the new, non-profit online visual art resource website
based in Unionville, Markham, Ontario.
This unique free service is in the continual process of compiling art resource information
not readily available elsewhere, with the help of local contributors’ experiences and sources.
The group’s mission is to provide supplemental information and resources for visual artists,
including online discussions in order to enhance the visual art experience.

Introducing markhamartcollective.com

Why you ask?

The visual art community needs a current local resource and voice, hence the development of this site. An ongoing entity, it will serve to supplement arts information not currently offered locally. Whether from the Markham, Unionville, Aurora, Thornhill and elsewhere in York Region, we will strive to keep the news up-to-date. There are many collective sites like this, but the difference is that most of the articles, blogs and news information is supplied by people like you.

What’s in it for you?

We invite you to list your name in the directory (for free) which will be linked to your website or blog. Linking on this site will also benefit your search engine strategy depending on how popular the site gets. Reciprocal links are welcome but not required. If you have an event you want to have posted, contact us and we’ll list it as soon as we can.

Visit the site and you’ll see categories including: Art Health, Event listings, Calls for submissions, a Blog, artist spotlight ‘On the Wall‘, Artist tips and tricks, Artist directory and interesting links.

The site will also be used as a sounding box for times when we need to voice our concerns. You may know that some artists and arts groups have asked political leaders (and prospects) questions on visual artist support. We will also advocate on your behalf. Dialogue takes two and we intend to keep asking for support.

If you wish to be included in the directory and/or have offerings of tips and resources, please don’t hesitate to contact us using the online form.

Feel free to visit the website at, www.markhamartcollective.com and yes, pass it on to your colleagues and artist friends. See and be seen.

With the potential cutbacks that have been debated over and over in Toronto, and by vague promises by MPP candidates, it is becoming more and more obvious that maverick attitudes need to be adjusted to save the arts industry. Sure, make cuts so that buses can run for the less fortunate, but don’t waste taxpayer’s time and money on frivolous spending?

Commercial construction developments are sprouting faster than a chia pet, yet vacant spaces in ‘older’ buildings grow just as quick. Who’s getting the tax break? Who paid for the infrastructure that leads to said building? What happens to that space? Can it be utilized by the arts sector or NFPs?

You know what it takes to put on a theatrical production, dance performance or concert, an art show or spoken word. Where is the support and space you need to rehearse, to learn, to exhibit?

If you belong to an arts organization, it’s time to get on their case and push for advocacy. What are they doing to support you the individual? You pay your dues. What are you getting for it? If your member organization is unable to provide an adequate answer, it’s going to be up to you to take a stand.

Do the same with politicians and community leaders until you are satisfied. Rise up and tell the leaders of society that the arts and culture sector is as important to the economy as raising taxes. Rally support from your peers. Use social media networks. Get the message across to as many as possible.

The character, Howard Beale’s signature catchphrase from the movie, Network said it all: “We’re as mad as hell, and we’re not going to take this anymore.”

All it takes is your voice. The time is now!

Recently I’ve been exposed to a little infringing of my own, but after subscribing to a visual artists’ legal clinic, I found that I have intellectual property powerhouse, Torys LLP waiting in the wings.

The Canadian Copyright Law is fairly cut and dried. Basically, when an artist creates a piece of work, they own first copyright. You can even register that copyright at the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO), however, if your creation is digital it automatically is date-stamped with a embedded creation date. Make sure all of your work has a © copyright symbol on it with the publication date.

I was surfing the internet lately and came upon a search engine called Copyscape. This tool uses the power of the major search engines to find infringing content. By entering my personal website domain, I found that an artist in Eastern Ontario had copied my profile text word for word. The search algorithm looks for the oldest version of text and compares it with indexed sites. Usually this kind of situation sorts itself out with a simple cease and desist order. Further action will require my legal counsel. Every page on my website has a © symbol on it with All Rights Reserved to me. Protect your website images by not making them too large. Web-ready files are too small and pixelated to enlarge for reproduction. There are scams out there whereby the artist is asked for the rights to reproduce your art for wallpapers. Invariably the artist is asked for a high resolution image. By giving this image up, unruly people will print and produce your work for money that you never see. Remember, if its too good to be true, don’t do it.

For professional graphic artists, the Canadian copyright laws also protects your intellectual property rights for volunteered ‘pro bono’ creative work. The key is that when no payment has been made, or no rights have been transferred, you own first copyright. If however you created something in the employment of a creative business, you do not own the copyright. This also affects writers and performers.

The Copyright laws were to be amended before the latest Federal elections to protect digital recordings, the use of digital players and more. You can visit the CIPO website to view Bill C-42. You can also learn more about other rights concerning your art.

The bottom line is to protect the integrity of ownership by using the © on everything you do, and take action on any infringements of your rights.