About this project
The Vineyard Fine Art Directory is an annual publication intended to be a resource for art patrons, appreciators, galleries, and other artists to find and connect with Martha's Vineyard artists. Listings are categorized by name and media.
MV art galleries and professional artists living, working, showing, or affiliated with Martha's Vineyard may be listed for free in the Vineyard Fine Art Directory, and on-line at vineyardfineart.com. Enhanced listings that include a picture, description, a copy of the publication, and live link on the website are usually $50 annually for artists (free to advertisers including galleries), but for a limited time through this kickstarter project are available for $40 and includes two free copies. Deadline for inclusion at this rate is Feb 21, after which normal rates apply. Deadline for submission of information is March 21 for the printed edition, but information may be updated any time for inclusion on vineyardfineart.com.
The first issue was published in May 2011. This fundraising project is for the next issue, to be distributed early May 2012.
Specifications, Distribution, and Table of Contents for 2011 issue (click to see)
Hundreds of copies have been donated to nonprofit arts organizations, such as the Friends of Family Planning art show, Featherstone Center for the Arts, Martha's Vineyard Art Association, and the new Arts and Culture Collaborative. VFAD is also available at certain galleries, cafes, farm stands, and shops on the Vineyard as well as by subscription.
The entire interior will be upgraded to full color, 70# paper if a donor is found at the $6000 level, or if Kickstarter fundraising goal is exceeded to pay for color printing in addition to our other expenses!
The back story:
Once upon a time, the Martha's Vineyard Center for the Visual Arts, a local nonprofit organization, published the Directory of Artists and Galleries on Martha's Vineyard. It was basically a phone book of artists on MV. As an active artist and gallery on Martha's Vineyard, I found it to be a valuable tool for contacting people about participating in art events and shows. It was also a way for art patrons and appreciators to find artists who don't have gallery representation, or find out what kind of artwork local galleries offered and their hours of operation, show schedules. I believe the MVCVA stopped publishing their directory in 2005, and since then I had been asking people if they knew who was putting out the next one, because like I said, I loved having updated contact information for the local artists.
The silence was deafening.
So after mulling over the idea for almost a year, I decided to do it myself. In Dec of 2010 I quickly learned a basic website authoring program and vineyardfineart.com was on-line (I owned the domain for about a decade, not knowing what I wanted to do with it, just paying my registration fee every year...). I created my systems for organizing data, decided how I wanted it to look, feel, and work, researched printing and binding options. Now I needed content. I started contacting artists in January, and had to explain each time yes, it's free to list, no really, it is (listings in the MVCVA required membership or a fee). The first to sign up were my friends who knew I would put out a quality product and that I live up to my word. Nonprofit arts organizations MV Arts Association and Featherstone Center for the Arts forwarded info about inclusion to local artists. Galleries submitted info about their represented island artists. It was becoming real.
Some galleries didn't return my calls, some wary of an ad pitch, until my final call when I explained that I wanted to put out a quality publication with accurate information, and if their info was not verified I would have to remove their free listing! Then they called and emailed back. I didn't think it would be so hard to convince people that they were getting something for nothing, but then when they realized what it was all about, I got so many thank you thank you thank yous. Wow, I didn't even consider it as something to be thanked for, since I WANTED it to exist! I was thankful that they were interested in participating.
Now how to pay for it...
The part I hate the most is trying to sell ads. Can't someone else do it? I tried to hire an ad salesperson who would work on commission. So many people unemployed these days, you'd think some responsible, charismatic soul would be willing to make some phone calls for the potential of an extra few hundred dollars. Nope. So I sent out more emails, made more phone calls, and once I got enough promises to pay for the printing, I stopped selling and concentrated on content and layout. All on my free time when not working my regular day job(s).
My poor writers, I gave them kind of short notice - after laying everything out, I thought hm, this is kind of dry. I remembered the blog Julie Roads wrote a year or so before during and about a drawing group I attend, and thought that was exactly the kind of ARTicle I wanted included, maybe she will let me reprint it. After mulling it over she finally gave permission just days before my deadline to the printer! The night before submitting to the printer I stayed up until around 3am gleaning events from various websites and other sources to put together a calendar of summer events. Amelia Smith and I came up with subjects for potential articles during a brainstorming session, and she came through with two well-written articles in just a couple weeks after having called and interviewed all the right people. Now how to pay the writers?
I almost abandoned the project due to lack of funding until the John Stobart Gallery in Edgartown said they wanted the back cover. Hallelujah, back in business, enthusiasm renewed! Put the rest on my credit card... I stopped keeping track of my hours, knowing if I laid it all out I'd be lucky if I broke even with costs, let alone all the unpaid hours. Just. Don't. Think. About It. Hours of phone calls, hours on the computer, hours researching, why wasn't I doing my art instead?? And all the while working a regular full-time "day job" to pay my bills. Potential advertisers wanted to see "last year's issue," well, I don't have one. Brand new. Get in on the ground floor. They had questions like where will it be distributed and how many copies? I pulled the number 1000 out of the air - about 400 were distributed throughout the summer at outlets with the retail price of $5 and free to fundraising events and at non-profits so they may raise funds through sales, then distributed over 400 copies for free at advertisers' places of business after Labor Day, most from the Old Sculpin Gallery in Edgartown where I was gallery manager. Meg Mercier included them in the gift bags made up for patrons of Featherstone's 2011 Artists Studio Tour. I realized very little return on the cover price, mostly it was there to make sure the directories got in the hands of people who cared about the MV art scene, instead of it becoming a freebie easily thrown away, killing trees and taking up landfill space (well, hopefully recycled). I also gave copies to most art galleries and businesses who hadn't seen it yet so they could refer their clients to arts events. Not a bad number pulled out of the air, and most copies went to art lovers, buyers, dealers, and collectors. Where they should be.
Now I do have something to show you, and it is good. I hope you enjoy issue #2, Vineyard Fine Art Directory 2012. We're coming up with some exciting subjects for ARTicles. Let it grow.
SO HERE IS WHERE THE MONEY GOES TO in order of importance:
- printing and shipping costs - this is the biggest chunk of change, triple or more for a color issue rather than black and white (depending on number of books ordered and current printer quotes)
- website fees - about $150 annually includes domain registration and monthly fees
- staff writers - need love too, but need cash more. They are sometimes starving artists too! I'd like to be able to pay them more and have more articles.
- office - supplies such as paper, ink, pens, pencils, sharpies, business cards, postcards, stamps, checks, software updates, hardware updates, storage, all the stuff to keep the ball rolling and let people know what we're doing and how to be involved. Meeting the Kickstarter goal gets us this far. Over and above helps out with:
- utilities - high speed internet, electricity, heat, phone
- gas for my car for distribution, meetings, shows, etc.
- advertising in local papers and magazines if the budget allows. I did not do this for 2011.
- if there is anything left, it goes to pay for my time (or others I might hire) for tech support, layout, proofing, data entry, phone calls, ad sales, updating the website, search engine optimization, distribution during trade shows and art shows, distribution to outlets. We all have bills to pay.
- if there's anything, ANYTHING left after that, I'm going to get another tattoo and take a trip to Barcelona as a bonus to me. These two things have been on my "to do" list for many years and I keep putting them off and spending my credit on other priorities, like my children, mortgage, etc...
Will it get easier?
yes. The set-up for first issue and authoring the website was the most time-consuming, now it's a matter of updating and adding to it. I had nothing to show people at first except a fairly empty website, they just had to trust me. Now I have a list of artists and galleries to contact to make sure their information is still correct, systems in place to organize the information, advertisers whom I can ask if they would like to renew their ads (at a lower rate if done through this Kickstarter appeal by Feb 21), distribution outlets (I will expand the outlets for 2012 - I wanted to approach more businesses but surprisingly and fortuitously ended up managing Old Sculpin Gallery, which took most of my time...). I think 2012 will be a good year, and will produce a beautiful issue, connecting art-lovers with art.
About Me
I'm a professional artist, but don't make assumptions ;) On second thought, go ahead, the rumors are probably all true.
BA in fine art from Bowdoin College, also studied painting and sculpture at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Maine College of Art. At Bowdoin, I was art editor, and then editor-in-chief of The Quill, a literary magazine of mostly art and poetry published annually, which is why putting together this publication ain't no big thing. I also do a bunch of other stuff for love and money.
About the art rewards: I have been doing oil landscape paintings en plein air on Martha's Vineyard and sumi-e inkwash figure drawing from life since I moved here in 1994. You will receive professional quality artwork for a fraction of gallery prices by backing this project. The thing is, I'm going to make the artwork whether I show it or sell it or not, so might as well make sure it goes out into the world to be enjoyed instead of sitting in a high-priced stack in my studio...
FAQ
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
1
Backer
$25.00
pledged of $5,000 goal
Funding Canceled
Funding for this project was canceled by the project creator on February 18.
Pledge $4 or more Pledge $4 or more
ART LOVER Thank you for your interest in the arts on Martha's Vineyard. Cover price for the Vineyard Fine Art Directory is $5, but by backing through Kickstarter, you will be rewarded with a free copy of the directory that you may pick up from Nina in Vineyard Haven or at Old Sculpin Gallery in Edgartown fresh from the printer in May. What a bonus, you get to look at art at the same time, or have a cup of tea with me (iced, if it's hot out). I will send you a thank you card that you can turn in for your free copy.
Pledge $10 or more Pledge $10 or more
SUMMER BIRD You can have two copies of the VFAD, one for you, one for giving, mailed anywhere in the US so you can plan your art outings before you get to the island. Regular mailed subscription for one copy is $10 ($5 cover price, $5 shipping and handling) after Kickstarter promotional period is over. Please contact for additional international shipping rates.
Pledge $20 or more Pledge $20 or more
STARTER ART COLLECTOR Collecting art and backing a project need not break your budget. At this level, you will be rewarded with an ORIGINAL sumi-e inkwash drawing by Nina from a live model (NOT a print or reproduction), suitable to be slipped into a pre-cut mat with opening size 5"x7" (photo frames around 8"x10" often include a mat this size). Male or female, your choice, which drawing is my choice. I can send this to you with your copy of the VFAD in May, or like I said before, if you pick it up from me I'll make you a cup of tea. (Please add $5 for international shipping.)
Pledge $25 or more Pledge $25 or more
PEN-PAL Give and receive and give Martha's Vineyard. Receive the directory in May, but also a gift for you now. A set of 8 different notecards with envelopes in a gift box, featuring full-color reproductions of original landscape paintings from every island town by Nina Gomez Gordon (blank interior, retail price $20) will be mailed to you in March. Send out those cards to let your uninvited house guests know that this is all the Vineyard they are getting this summer, or entice long-lost friends to visit by reminding them how lovely this island can be. Or if you are really that amazing, maybe you will be writing "thank you" notes for all those holiday presents you just received! (Please add $5 for international shipping.)
Pledge $40 or more Pledge $40 or more
SUPPORTER OF THE ARTS Sponsor an artist, including yourself! Basic artist listings in the VFAD are free and includes contact info, but enhanced listings are usually $50 annually and include a photo, blurb around 3-4 lines that may include description and dates/locations of shows, and live link on the website (see www.vineyardfineart.com). For $40 your pet artist will be upgraded to an enhanced listing and you get two copies of the directory for pick-up or sent to you in May, one for you and one for giving. If you are sponsoring an artist, I will mail a hand-written postcard telling your artist about the gift, with directions on how to submit their information for inclusion in the VFAD. Live links are good for one year ending each May, but beginning whenever the money is received, so your gift may keep on giving for as long as 15 months, from February 2012 to May 2013! You want to contribute but don't know any of the artists? Choose one randomly on-line, or I can choose one for you. Let me know if you would like your sponsorship to be anonymous. All sponsors of artists will be thanked in the printed directory and on-line with your name listed as a Supporter of the Arts.
Pledge $55 or more Pledge $55 or more
Getting the most for your money - sponsor an artist, but you still want a free gift! I understand the need for instant gratification and am pretty thrifty myself. You get all of the rewards in the $40 tier plus the notecards described in the $25 tier (while supplies last), or an original figure drawing as described in the $20 tier, your choice. You are a man or woman after my own heart. (Please add $5 for international shipping.)
Pledge $75 or more Pledge $75 or more
ART COMMUNITY SPONSOR At this level, you may use 1/4 page of the printed directory in black and white, to advertise your business, shout out to the arts community, or insert a picture or photo, etc. (aesthetics considered), for less than the normal full price of $85, with free computer design if necessary (includes one revision, normally $50). You will be thanked and listed as an Art Community Sponsor, with a live link to your website, and if you are a Martha's Vineyard art gallery, your gallery listing will be enhanced as well as placed on the map in the print version and on-line. If you are an artist of course your listing will also be enhanced. This level has 5 free copies for pick-up in May, additional copies throughout the summer at cost if you wish to sell them at your place of business, and free distribution of residual copies after Labor Day. Depending on the level of fundraising through Kickstarter, this may be upgraded to color. All ad materials are due by March 21.
Pledge $100 or more Pledge $100 or more
QUIET ROAR You love art, you love Martha's Vineyard, and you want to own Vineyard art. You want to help with the project, but in a quiet way. At this level, I will send you the VFAD in May, and by the end of September an original oil painting by Nina, size anywhere from 5"x7" or 6"x6" to 9"x12", unframed, my choice of Vineyard scene. I'm putting a late delivery date for the painting in the happy circumstance where I might have to spend all summer painting for all the donors! Besides, the oil paint would have to dry. And, of course you will be thanked and listed in the directory and on-line. (Please add $10 for insured international shipping.)
Pledge $125 or more Pledge $125 or more
Same as at $75, but you get a black and white half page (normally $150) to play with, and receive 10 free copies in May.
Pledge $200 or more Pledge $200 or more
Same as at $75, but you get a black and white full page (normally $250), and 20 free copies.
Pledge $350 or more Pledge $350 or more
Same as at $75, but this is for the inside front cover in black and white, and 30 free copies. Normally priced at $400 after Feb 21.
Pledge $350 or more Pledge $350 or more
Same as at $75, but this is for the inside back cover in black and white, and 30 free copies. Normally priced at $400 after Feb 21.
Pledge $400 or more Pledge $400 or more
Same as at $75, but you are guaranteed a full page in color, and 40 free copies. This reward is limited to 12 due to budget concerns, but may be increased if our budget increases. If the level of fundraising through Kickstarter upgrades the whole directory to color printing, you will be upgraded to a two-page spread at this level! That's a lot of beauty for you to share...
Pledge $700 or more Pledge $700 or more
Same as at $75, but you get the back cover of the VFAD in color (normally $750), and 50 free copies. Back cover is full color laminated cardstock, full bleed (all the way to the edges).
Pledge $1,000 or more Pledge $1,000 or more
PATRON OF THE ARTS You care about the Martha's Vineyard art community, and have an interest in shaping and informing it. At this level, you can submit three ideas for articles about the arts that you would like to see written and included in the directory, one of which will be selected for inclusion. If you know a professional writer who is interested in getting paid by VFAD to author the article, please let us know and we will consider him or her. Final edits will be made by VFAD staff. You will also receive an original framed oil painting by Nina Gomez Gordon 10" or 16"x20" on stretched canvas or larger, and pretty much as many copies of the directory as you wish to share with friends (up to around 50 or possibly more depending on availability). You will be thanked and listed as a Patron of the Arts, and of course a lifetime subscription. (International shipping will not include frame.)
Pledge $2,000 or more Pledge $2,000 or more
HOLD MY HAND? About that tattoo I was talking about, at this level of giving you can come with me to the parlour and watch me bleed. I promise to have a smile on my face the whole time. If you are off-island it doesn't have to be Feb, we can do this whenever you get to the island, or I am willing to travel around the tri-state area or even NYC if you know a good artist.
Pledge $6,000 or more Pledge $6,000 or more
ART BENEFACTOR At this level, you don't want or need my rewards - you believe, as Shelley writes in A Defence of Poetry, "Artists are more capable than theorists or pundits in representing the consciousness of the people, because the language of art is a language of immediacy, of spirit, and of the transporting analogy." At this level you have sponsored for every artist in the printed directory to have a color photo of their artwork, an enhanced listing, and live links in the on-line edition for the year. A second benefactor at this level will make distribution of the directory free island-wide all summer beginning in May, no cover price, while supplies last. A third benefactor will enable another printing of 1000 copies on recycled paper to be distributed for free. But I will still additionally reward you with an original oil painting of your choice from my available inventory shipped or delivered at my expense, or a commissioned piece with subject matter of your choice, including a portrait of you, or your dog, or you with your dog, pretty much any size you want, up to around 30"x40", you will be thanked and listed as an Art Community Benefactor, and of course a lifetime subscription to the directory and pretty much as many copies as you wish for friends.
Pledge $7,500 or more Pledge $7,500 or more
COVER ART Vanity what is thy name? Snatch this one up quick because I'll probably cancel it. You get to choose the cover art for 2012, with VFAD approval (no obscenities, etc., aesthetics take precedence). I want to choose the cover, but I may be able to let this one go at this price... and of course lifetime subscription, as many extra copies as you wish for friends, and commission or choose one of my paintings shipped or delivered at my expense. Like I said, if I change my mind before I get a backer for this level I'm going to cancel this reward, artist's prerogative.
Pledge $10,000 or more Pledge $10,000 or more
ART TOUR Who wants to go to Barcelona with me? I will make all the arrangements and do all the research for a guided art and architecture tour, all the best cafes, tapas, and sangria, a futbol match, bull fight, flamenco, plenty of siestas at the right times, and other art inspiration and "research" including a day of plein air painting where you get to keep any artwork I produce as a souvenir. Dates somewhat flexible, we'll figure it out, from a few days to a couple weeks.
Project By
Connected as Nina Lisa Maria (498 friends)
I paint. On Martha's Vineyard. I was born on a Wednesday but so far that hasn't stopped me.
