About this project

Kianga Ellis presents The New York Group Show

October 27 - November 23, 2011 in New York City

[Click here to watch the entire uncut project video on my YouTube Channel]

Dear Visual Artists,

I hear you. I feel your pain in this moment of rising censorship and declining funding. The Art World that you make possible with the labor of your heart and hands is failing you miserably. If you know me, you know I'm with you. In 2005, I quit my job as a derivatives trading lawyer at Goldman Sachs to be a full-time advocate for arts patronage and a connector of people to art. In the years since, I have worked with art fairs, galleries, curators, a leading auction house, museums, artists, young patrons and non-profit organizations (the full monty) on a variety of projects.

I expect that now more than ever you are feeling deflated by the forces...okay, I'll just say it: the $MONEY$, or your lack thereof... that seem to determine so much about everything. Well, I say to heck with all that and E pluribus unum!

I've set an aggressive fund raising goal for this project intentionally. I am asking for pledge amounts of only $25...intentionally. This campaign is being directed to artists specifically to prove a point. Will 1,000 of you come together and speak with one voice to the Aaahrt World? If so, I'm at your service. You do not need the anointing of ivory tower gate keepers to be seen, heard and appreciated.

Here is what I'm proposing:

Five visual artists will be selected by a committee of their peers who have funded this project (the "Selection Committee") for an exhibition curated by and for artists. The Selection Committee will nominate 30 artists from 6 cities across the United States for a studio visit like the ones I have been doing this year for my Video Blog.

For the months of June, July and August the backers of this project will direct me as I travel to Santa Fe, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, Newark, Washington, D.C. and the five boroughs of New York City. I will keep you relentlessly updated via Twitter, Foursquare, Facebook and Kianga's Vlog: Art Evangelism & Society 2.0 (oh, and email if you are old school).

Videos from each studio visit will be shared with the Selection Committee (as well as the entire world through social media) and considered along with the merits of the artist's work. As backers of this project, you will make the final decision as to the theme, artists and art works that will be presented at the exhibition in the fall. CVs, press mentions, previous shows and the identity of private or institutional collectors of the artists' work will not be considered.

In order to be eligible for nomination an artist does NOT need to be a backer of the project, but must meet the following criteria:

• not be represented by a commercial art gallery;
• be fed up with the obsession over having gallery representation; and
• feel sick nearly to death of the Art World being concerned with everything but actual works of art.

The New York Group Show will be held at a venue to be approved by the Selection Committee. A full-color catalog will accompany the exhibition and include essays written and selected by members of the Selection Committee. The five exhibiting artists retain all intellectual property rights and title to their art works and keep 100% of the proceeds from any sales (take THAT Bravo TV!).

I will donate my time and the following professional services: project coordinator, publicist, social media maven, promoter and artist cheerleader.

The budget represents the absolute rock bottom minimum funding needed for securing a suitable exhibition venue for one month, art installation, publication of a quality exhibition catalog, preparation of marketing materials, and small subsidy for travel and art work shipping.

Finally, this wonderful experience will conclude with an opening reception for the exhibition and massive after party. I'm quite skilled at throwing a fun art party as you can see from this video of a fête I organized at Phillips de Pury & Co.

So, what say you? Shall we DO THIS?

Yours truly,

Kianga