Ryerson Artspace, a student- and faculty-run gallery, will be holding its annual fundraising event, Full Frame, from Nov. 27 to Dec. 14.
The print sale and fundraiser will include work produced by image arts students, as well as faculty and alumni who have been successful within the art community.
Artists featured in the gallery include Max Dean, an image arts professor at Ryerson who has shown at the Art Gallery of Ontario and the National Art Gallery in Ottawa, and visual artist and image arts alumna Annie MacDonell.
Since the pieces are donated, the gallery is able to sell at lower prices than if you were to go to a commercial gallery and purchase the artwork from one of their dealers, says Robyn Cummings, assistant professor at Ryerson and director of Ryerson Artspace. “So it’s a good opportunity to get good work for cheap.”
Cummings says it helps bring people to the gallery so they can see what Ryerson students are producing. “Then they’ll see the student work and purchase that (as well).”
Around 60 image arts students will be selling their work at the fundraiser. But any Ryerson student could have made a submission.
Jeffrey Chiu, a second-year photography student at Ryerson, is selling one of his prints from an assignment he did in first year.
“(It’s) a good way to have your work out there and at the same time benefit from exposure and potentially selling it to someone who’s willing to buy it,” he said.
For many students this will be the first time their work is displayed publicly, says Cummings.
“It’s a great way for us to get the community involved in what Ryerson is doing and let them see that Ryerson students are making good things.”
There will also be sculptural objects, tote bags and holiday greeting cards on sale, as well as a raffle.
Items in the raffle include a family TIFF membership with four admission vouchers, a $100 gift card to the Drake Hotel and a $250 gift card to Toronto Image Works. The items were donated by Artspace sponsors.
All the money raised will go back into running the gallery to help with paying staff, rent and towards paying for show installations.
Those who provide items for Full Frame have a choice between donating 60 per cent or 100 per cent of their proceeds to the gallery. “It’s our biggest fundraiser,” said Cummings.
“It’s where we bring in the most funds for the gallery.”
The gallery has been running the event for just more than 20 years. This is the first year they will be hosting a print sale. They’ve held an auction in previous years.
However, Cummings says they did not feel like it was beneficial to them, as only one person was able to go home with each piece. “The student would have much rather wanted to sell three editions of the piece.”
Cummings says the print sale allows for the student to not only sell multiples of their work, but for everyone to get the work they want.
The fundraiser is an opportunity for students to sell their work and helps to build an artistic community.
“It’s a place where ideas are shared in a very diverse way,” said Cummings.
“So it’s a great way for people to congregate and feel safe and supported and feel like there’s this celebration surrounding the work that’s coming out of the school.”
It will kick off with an evening reception Nov. 27 from 7-10 p.m. at the gallery’s new home, located at the Gladstone Hotel.
The gallery for Full Frame is open Thursday to Sunday from 12-5 p.m.
Reporter at The Ryersonian. Interests include fashion and lifestyle.
Jessica graduated from the Ryerson School of Journalism in 2015.