Welcome to my blog. This is a new adventure for me -- writing about downtown living, as well as the art business. I hope to both entertain and inform with my semi-regular musings. If you would like to comment on anything I have written, please click here mail@assiniboia.com. I look forward to your feedback-- Mary Weimer, Owner.

The Art of Hanging Art

Jan 27, 2010


Any time someone takes a hammer to their walls there can be a bit of hesitation
.
That's why customers tell us they find hanging a painting quite stressful. They are afraid they'll mess up and be left with the dreaded cluster of holes in their living room wall.

So, how to eliminate this stress and mess?


The first option is to call us! We install all types of art. Whether you've purchased it here or not, we will help. Not only will you get our expert hand in hanging your piece, but we can also advise on arranging your pieces.


Whether you've recently moved and are starting from scratch or your walls are full and you want an updated look, we would be pleased to assist. The cost for this service is $100 per hour. OK, commercial over!


For do-it-yourself hanging, here are some helpful tips:


1. First, you are going to need the tools of the trade – tape measure, pencil, green painter's tape, picture hanging hooks, notepad and a level.



2. Decide what your centre line is going to be. For a home, I like 56 inches and for an office, I like 58 inches. This means that from the floor to the middle of your piece the measurement will be 56 inches. The key is consistency! If you prefer a few inches higher or lower than what I've recommended, by all means go ahead but you want to keep your centre line consistent throughout your space.

3. Hanging a grouping of paintings "salon style" can be an interesting way to display several different pieces. For example, you might use this on the wall going up the stairs or down a narrow hallway. Preparation is foremost. Tape out your wall space on the floor and then start laying pieces in place. You can move them around until you get your desired look. I usually like to start in the middle and work my way out. You are going to need to get friendly with a tape measure and level but, trust me, if you take your time you will have a beautiful arrangement.


4. Most paintings are usually much lighter than you think. The average weight is between 10 and 15 pounds. As long as you use appropriate picture hanging hooks, you do not need to hit a stud. Pounding straight into the drywall is just fine. If you have plaster walls, you will need to pre-drill the hole and then lightly hammer the picture hook into place.

5. Finally, if you make a mistake and need to adjust higher or lower, don't panic. Consider adjusting the hardware on the back of the painting and you won't have to pound another hole in the wall. And, remember, any "mistakes" you make will likely be covered by your painting!

Following is a step-by-step primer and photo illustrations that will help you to hang a painting.


Follow along as I hang Gordon Lewis' 30" x 40" Ladyslipper Courtyard.


Step One: Measure the height of the artwork, including the frame… 33"

Step Two: Divide 33" by 2 and add 56 (your centre line) to get the distance from the floor to the top of your painting… 33 / 2 = 16.5 + 56 = 72.5"

Step Three: Measure from the floor to 72.5" and place a piece of tape on the wall. Also, place a piece of tape where the bottom of the painting would be. That way, you can stand back and see exactly where it will hang. The painter's tape is easy to see and remove later. You will be making some pencil marks and you can do this on the tape. Since you'll be peeling the tape off when you are finished you can make the marks as dark and as big as you need to. Marking with a pencil directly on the wall makes a mess and I can never find my pencil mark anyway!


Step Four: For paintings that are 24" wide and smaller, you can use one hook in the centre. For anything wider than 24", you will want to use two hooks. This keeps the painting hanging straighter.



Use your hands to pull the wire taught and measure the distance apart and also the distance from the wire to the top of the painting. This is easier to do if you have a helper!


Step Five: Write the measurements down on your notepad (or guaranteed you will forget!) …
20" apart, 6 ½" from the wire to the top of the painting

This means that your hooks will be 66" from the floor and 20" apart.


Step Six: Measure from the floor to 66" and place a piece of tape on the wall. Mark the centre.



Step Seven: Using your level, measure 10" out on either side of your centre line and mark the spot for the two hooks.


Step Eight: Now you are ready to hammer in the hooks. You are going to place the bottom of the hook (where the wire will rest) on your level line.


Step Nine: Hang the painting and stand back to admire perfection.





Having said all this, you might still consider hiring the professionals, especially for tricky spaces such as the wall up the staircase or above the fireplace mantle if it is finished with a masonry or stucco product.

Not only will you save yourself time and the stress of possibly making a mistake, you and your partner will still be on speaking terms when the job is done!

On a recent installation of artworks at the home of one of our customers, the wife said to me, "I feel like we should be arguing! Usually, when my husband and I hang a new painting it ends in a fight. This seems too easy watching you do all the work."

So, there you have it. Not only can the Assiniboia Gallery help you show your treasured paintings to their best effect, we also help to preserve harmony on the home front.

If you have any questions about hanging, please send us an email. We're here for you.

-Mary


The making of the Holiday Miniatures Show

Nov 2, 2009


It's that time of year again! Preparations for our Annual Holiday Miniatures Show are in full swing. The show opens on Friday, November 20th, 2009 and continues until January 10, 2010. Most shows feature one or two artists; however, this show is unique. It showcases over 30 artists!

We spend several months getting ready for the opening, starting with setting the date a year in advance. In the spring, we invite our artists to participate and request that they send us pieces - no larger than 12" x 16" - by mid-October. This year we will have new work from Rick Bond, Karen Rieger, Carl Schlademan, Nancy Lucas, Angela Morgan and Sean Randall to name just a few.


Rick Bond "Italian hiltops" 11x14 a/c $1160 framed


We'll also have some miniatures from a few artists who've never participated in the Holiday Miniatures show before. Abstract artist Shawn Evans (SK), landscape artist Lindsey Love (SK) and our newest gallery artist Shelia Kernan (SK), are all HM first-timers.


Shawn Evans "Zenaide and Charlotte" 9x11 o/c $535 framed

We have a big job ahead of us over the next three weeks. This is what's on our to-do list:

  • select all the pieces for the show, photograph them and post the images on our website
  • select framing for each of the more than 80 pieces and then do the actual framing
  • plan and prepare for the opening reception on November 20th
  • install this huge show!

It's a lot of work, but we also have a lot of fun doing it because we know how much people who visit the gallery during the HM show enjoy it. People get excited by the huge variety of works from which to choose and appreciate the fact that smaller works are more affordable. Prices range from $50 to $300 for jewellery, glass and ceramics. Paintings range in price from $300 to $2000.


Nancy Lucas "Roman Ruins and Poppies" 11x14 $1085 framed


Perhaps one of the best reasons to shop the Holiday Miniatures is that it makes it easy to find a unique gift for just about anyone on your list. Art is a very thoughtful and personal gift that never goes out of style. It's something the recipient will have forever.


Many couples shop together for their holiday gift and pick out a piece of art as their present to each other. Or, one of them will buy a special piece as a gift for the other. It's a great way for a couple to start an art collection or build on an existing collection.
For those of you who want your gift to be a complete surprise, you can rest assured that my staff and I are really good at keeping secrets.

We've done some crazy things around here to make sure the gift really is a surprise. I remember two years ago, we sold a piece to a man who was buying the artwork for his wife. Normally, we'd mark the painting sold on the wall and the website. However, his wife really wanted this piece and was going to be coming in to see it. The husband was worried that if it was marked sold she would know he had bought it for her. So, we took the painting off the wall and I told her that someone had taken it home on approval. Yikes, was she mad at her husband! I can just imagine what she said to him when she got home! I was told there were lots of laughs when she opened her gift on Christmas morning and found out the painting had been "on approval" for her.

I do hope you'll join us on Friday, November 20th, for the opening of our Holiday Miniatures show. Drop by anytime between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. The exhibition continues until January 10, 2010. You can view the show on-line or by visiting the Assiniboia Gallery in person at 2266 Smith Street, Regina.

-Mary


Mary's Top 10 List

Oct 7, 2009


We've hit a milestone here at the Assiniboia Gallery! September 1, 2009, marked 10 years for me as owner of this business. As they say, time flies when you're having fun. I don't think I could ever have imagined we'd be where we are today on that "historic" day 10 years ago.
I distinctly remember sitting at my desk -- fashioned from an old door -- while all kinds of people came in to wish us luck and see our inaugural show. The show was with Carl Schlademan, one of our top artists at the time. He is still one of our most popular to this day.
The first piece I sold as the new owner of Assiniboia Gallery was Carl's "Three Pears".



This painting was purchased by a long-time customer turned friend, Charlie Baldock. Charlie has since purchased additional pieces and continues to visit the gallery on a regular basis. Thinking of that pear painting is a great reminder of my first day as a business owner.

There have been a lot of changes to our business over the past decade. I thought it would be fun to put a list together of my Top 10 changes. So, with apologies to David Letterman, here goes!

#10. Progressed from operating with one 60-year-old typewriter to four computers (for three people!)
Customers often comment on the number of computers we have. Why four when there are only three of you working in the gallery? You'll have to ask Jeremy. He's always buying new computers.

#9. Expanded our custom framing, installation and packing services.
We are now the go-to place for these services for public corporations, private business and individuals. We have an incredible staff of experienced framers, headed by Michael Rankin. Michael has been in the art business for over 25 years and brings a wealth of knowledge.

#8. Quintupled our full-time staff
When I bought the gallery business, there was just me and a part-time framer. Now, there are five of us working full-time – three to serve customers in the gallery and two in our custom framing service. We also have two part-time staff.

#7. Evolved from a business that served local clients almost exclusively into one that sells artworks across Canada and in countries around the world. In 1999, 99 per cent of buyers were local. A decade later, we do 75% of our business in the Regina area while out-of province sales now account for 25% of the total.
We have sold artworks to clients in South Korea, England, Australia, France and several other countries. International sales still account for just a small percentage of the total, but we are excited about the potential of the international market. Our success in significantly increasing our sales nationally tells us there is an opportunity to do the same internationally.

#6. Increased annual revenues by 50 per cent overall.
Our goal is to keep growing our business by putting technology to work for us to an even greater extent. We want to extend our reach in national and international markets and continue to attract the younger buyers who are well-traveled and art-savvy due to their international experiences and the internet.

#5. Almost doubled the number of artists represented (from 33 to 60).
By adding artists, our offerings are more diverse. We can cater to a variety of tastes and reach more clients. The addition of less traditional artworks has appealed particularly to our younger clientele.

#4. Improved my personal fashion sense remarkably.
I was only 22 when I started, but I dressed so matronly. The shoes were really bad. I don't know what I was thinking. I was definitely a candidate for a Stacy-and-Clinton makeover. I guess my fashion sense grew with my business sense. At our first Holiday Miniatures show, I committed a major fashion faux-pas with a Christmas-themed sweater. I guess I thought it suited the occasion or looked cute. In my defence, it wasn't even mine! I borrowed it from my mom. (Sorry, Mom.) Just to be clear, she doesn't wear it anymore.

#3. Relocated from rented space to our own building, doubling the size of the original gallery.
We bought our century-old house at 2266 Smith Street in the up-and-coming Centre Square neighbourhood in 2007. The $500,000-plus, relocation and renovation project created a 2500-square-foot gallery and, ultimately, an upstairs residence for me, my husband Jeremy, and our two young children.

#2. Added my blog "Living Up Downtown" to the gallery website.
I was nervous about writing a blog because I wasn't sure people would be interested in my musings about our unusual residential choice, downtown living, and the art business. Fortunately, people actually like it! Clients say they are visiting the website more often to read my latest posting. The blog has even been tweeted about on Twitter.
Perhaps the biggest change we have made in the business in the last 10 years is…

#1. Capitalized on internet and e-mail technology to spread our wings into new markets and serve clients more efficiently
Our website is the backbone of our business. It displays our full inventory and is a major selling tool – both locally and across Canada, and now beyond. Selling art often used to involve phone calls and follow-up letters, mailing slides of artworks to clients for consideration. The process could take months. Now, a client sees a piece they wish to buy on our website and we ship it out the next day!

If you have comments about what you think has changed most at Assiniboia Gallery in the past 10 years, I'd love to hear them. You can e-mail me at info@assiniboia.com or share them with us when you drop by to enjoy our new show with works by Carl Schlademan and Jose Ventura. (For a sneak preview, click here.)
Here are two pieces from the show:


Thoughts of August” 24 x 36; by Carl Schaldeman


Spirit of Nature” 30 x 30; by Jose Ventura

You can meet the artists at the Opening Reception on Thursday, October 8th, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. We hope you'll join us as we celebrate the first 10 years.
-Mary

P.S. You can read what the Leader Post had to say about our 10th Anniversary by clicking here.



The Making of a Magazine Photo Shoot

Sept 8, 2009


This summer I had the pleasure of meeting Reg and Susanne Hamilton – the publisher and managing editor, respectively, of Arriva Magazine. If you haven't had a chance to see Arriva yet, you can pick up the latest issue at the Assiniboia Gallery. We're excited about this new magazine because of its stylish layout and interesting, locally-written stories. We're even more thrilled about this particular issue because we are in it!

The article's focus is on our home above the gallery. It features some great photos taken by Regina's own Don Hall. It was an interesting experience getting our house ready for its close-up.

We had come home from a few days at Kenosee Lake and Don was slated to come the next morning. Let's just say it was a very busy 24 hours getting the house tidied up. It was hectic, but at least it forced me to put away the lake stuff. A cooler and life jackets are not exactly suited to a home décor magazine photo shoot. Now, maybe if the piece was for Cottage Life, that would work.

Reg and Susanne wanted the kids to be in some photos. They were keen to the idea, but I was worried what would actually happen when Don arrived. As it turned out, the kids were great and more than happy to do whatever was needed. The article features a couple of great shots of the kids. My favourite is of the two of them zooming through the gallery on their tricycle – Sarah peddling and James riding on the back.

Every morning before we head out the door, they ride their bikes for a bit through the gallery. They always ask, "Are we open, Mom?" If I say, "Not yet," then they know it's okay to let loose for a few minutes.

The thing I like the most about our home is that it is a very open and bright space despite how small it is. I often think it's a bit like living in a hotel suite. I can see the entire main floor while lying in bed. This comes in handy early Sunday morning when the kids are up and we want just a few more minutes of sleep! I can even point to the kitchen and provide directions: "No. The Cheerios are in that cupboard!"

Working with our interior designer, Marina Hildebrand, we put the emphasis on our greatest asset – our art collection. I like white. Actually, I LOVE white. It was easy to create a neutral background for the artwork with Benjamin Moore's Cloud White on the walls and dark brown wood floors. The art takes your eye away from the fact that we still have paper blinds on our windows.

Marina was invaluable in helping us select finishes such as our glossy Mikado laminate countertops and white subway tile. The kitchen and living room are where we spend most of our time. We worked with Marina to create a floor plan that leaves lots of room for lounging, playing, art making, and eating. Our kitchen island is huge and is usually covered in construction paper, glitter and pipe cleaners. Sarah and James spend hours there making works of art.

You can check out our feature story in Arriva by clicking here: http://www.arrivamagazine.squarespace.com

In the meantime, here are a couple of my own photos which feature artwork (left to right on floating shelves) by:

Marian J. Ready "Awakening" black and white photograph 10 x 8"
Susan Rankin "Chartreuse Scroll Vase" blown and solid worked glass, sandblasted surface 11.5" high
Susan Rankin "Flower Bottles" (3) Blown and solid worked glass, 8" high
Erica Grimm-Vance "Memory Traces IX" encaustic on board, 8 x 8"


Painting in stairwell by:

Carl Schlademan "Magenta Feelings" 18 x 24" acrylic/canvas

I hope you enjoy the Arriva spread as much as we enjoyed being interviewed and photographed for it.

- Mary


Why We Love Regina

Aug 20, 2009


I have had some wonderful feedback on my last few blogs. In particular, people are very intersted in our downtown living. People often ask, "What is there to do in your neighbourhood, especially with kids?"


Actually, there are all kinds of things to do and, the best part is, we can walk to all of them.


Anyone with kids who must travel in car-seats knows what a hassle that can be. We plan for the little extra time our environmentally-friendly mode of transport might take, then load the kids into our BMW of double strollers known as "The Bob". We purchased our Bob from Western Cycle last summer. I can't say enough great things about it! I subscribe to the belief that you get what you pay for and that couldn't be more true in the jogging stroller world. Many people see the stroller in the gallery and think we have twins. Nope -- just a three-year-old and six-year-old who are much happier to ride than walk! (Plus, it's a good work-out pushing almost 100 pounds of kid around town.)


On our list of favourite things to do:

  • Walking to Dessart Sweets for ice cream, followed by lots of window shopping along 13th Avenue...
  • Dropping into Cathedral Village Free House for appetizers...
  • Hitting the Cornwall Centre food court for lunch followed by a little shopping...
  • Picking up a pizza from our neighbours across the street at the Fireside Bistro...
  • And last but not least, stopping into Atlantis Coffee Co. for coffee in the morning and then heading over to Victoria Park to play.


And, the fun doesn't end once summer is over.


We are looking forward to the start of Globe Theatre's season. Jeremy and I have been subscribers for years and I've been on the Board of Directors since 2001. I will be the Chair for the 2009/2010 season. Did you know that Globe is Canada's only permanent theatre in the round? And, now that we are downtown dwellers, we can just walk the six blocks to the Globe. More exercise to counteract all the eating!


A very special event at Globe Theatre is coming September 12th. If you've never seen the inner workings of Globe Theatre you do not want to miss "Doors Open". We are also especially looking forward to the holiday show this year. It's Peter Pan. We will take a big group of little cousins and friends to this show during the Christmas Holidays. It's a great way to introduce young people to live theatre.

Another downtown activity that we are quite excited about happens on September 25th. The Assiniboia Gallery is partnering with the Davin School Association to bring you the "Twilight Tour" of five special homes in the Crescents and Cathedral area, followed by a reception, entertainment and a silent auction at our gallery. It will be great.

So, yes, there is a lot to do downtown. But don't take my word for it. Come see for yourself!


-Mary


What’s Hot, What’s New at the Assiniboia Gallery

Aug 6, 2009


Well, it's back to work for me. No more shovelling sand and soil or planting for this girl. Not that that's not work, but I need to get back to what I'm really good at -- selecting and selling beautiful works of art. Some might say (ahem, Jeremy) that I was doing more "supervising" out in the yard than anything else. Hey, someone has to keep the Gallery doors open!

Our Summer Group Show is always a feast for the eyes. Right now, we are featuring 24 artists and the list is always changing. As pieces sell, they go out the door and new ones go up. It's a great opportunity to showcase new artists, as well as some of your long-time favourites.

Check out new artist Lindsey Love...


Lindsey Love, "Promise of Rain" 20 x 36" acrylic/canvas $1520 framed


Lindsey is a young, Saskatchewan artist living in Saskatoon. This is her debut at the Assiniboia Gallery. It was easy to see from the first time I met Lindsey that her work would make a great addition to the Gallery. We were very excited to sell our first painting of Lindsey's the day she delivered them. (Lindsey also brought us delicious brownies that we are still talking about.)


Luther Pokrant drove from Winnipeg one busy Saturday in July to bring us two new water lily paintings. Luther's work is electric. His vibrant use of colour makes his water lilies jump off the canvas. A fellow fan of Luther's work bought one of those paintings that same day.



Luther Pokrant "Two Tone Blues" 48 x 18" oil/canvas $3415 framed


Now, let me tell you about one more hot, new work that has just arrived. Remember Sean Randall? I mentioned him last blog as the crafty guy who designed and built our cool new sign. Well, Sean has been busy painting. Very busy.


Sean uses layers and layers of paint, including metallic paints so the piece has this very cool sheen to it. It looks different in all kinds of light. I like to think of Sean’s work as “landscapes with an edge”. It has all the aspects of a good ‘ol prairie painting with what to me looks like a cityscape hovering over top of it all. There are two more in this series that you can check out on Sean’s page.



Sean Randall, “All These Years” 48 x 72” acrylic/canvas $5855 framed


I just love this painting and I have the perfect spot for it in our house. (Oh, Jeremy...) Before our just emerging summer ends, why not drop by and take a look at Sean’s work and all the others in our Summer Show.


Hope to see you soon!


-Mary


Yard Work!

Jul 22, 2009


No one has ever accused me or my husband Jeremy of having "green thumbs", but the sun is shining today (finally!) and we have turned our attention (finally!) to transforming the bald prairie-like front yard of our gallery-home into something a little more – dare I say -- lush


Like most projects we have a few requirements. We need our landscaping to:
  • Look good! It is the first impression of the gallery.
  • Smell good! Interesting perennials and shrubs will perfume the air. At least, that's the plan.

And, most importantly our yard must:
  • Be kid-friendly! Wascana Park is just down the street, but it's nice to stick around home sometimes.

To achieve all these things, we've utilized the expertise of one of our gallery artists, Sean Randall, to create a stunning sign for our business. Sean's unique work is fashioned from with lazer cut steel and plexi-glass. We left the steel raw so that it will rust and change over time. Evolution by oxidation, you could say.



We've also enlisted the help of our energetic family and our dynamic staff to dig, build, plant, and paint.



Our colour palette incorporates purple, red, green and pink...



Reminiscent of a Darlene Hay painting, in some ways (without the lake in the background, of course!)


Darlene Hay "Profusion of Wildflowers" 36 x 66" acrylic/canvas

You'll see from the photos from the early stages of the project that we've incorporated a sandbox for the kids. I had Angela Morgan's painting "for every bucket..." in mind when we decided to incorporate the sandbox.


Angela Morgan "for every bucket..." 18 x 32" oil/canvas

It’s big and deep and sure to provide hours of entertainment for our gallery kids ... and any Assiniboia “customer” kids, too!



Weather-willing, in another few days I will post a project update with some images of our finished masterpiece.
In the meantime, enjoy the warm weather!
-Mary


Living Up, Downtown

Jun 20, 2009


I have a confession to make. We never planned on living downtown and we certainly didn't intend to call the 800-square-foot, second-floor apartment above our business "home" – especially not with two kids, now age six and three.


Families just don't live on top of their businesses anymore, do they? Not in Regina!


Well, it turns out we do. And, we love it – much to the surprise of our friends we left behind in our old, kid-friendly neighbourhood. As for the kids, so far so good.


Four years ago when my husband Jeremy and I bought the 100-year-old house that is now home to our art gallery – the Assiniboia Gallery – we had no plan to live there. It never crossed our minds that we would leave our one-and-a-half storey, 1950s house with a big yard for a retro-modern, work-live situation. But as anyone who has started pulling plaster down in an old house knows, sometimes renos don't turn out quite the way you planned.


One evening in August, with the hole dug for the addition and demolition underway on the main floor, Jeremy climbed a ladder and stuck his head into the attic. What he found was a pretty large space, albeit stifling hot in the dog days of summer. Was it large enough for our home? The wheels started turning.


In the end, not only did we renovate the building -- with help from our ever-supportive credit union -- we renovated our lifestyle.


Today, we are happily ensconced in our gallery/home at 2266 Smith Street in what is called the Centre Square neighbourhood. It is an up-and-coming retail, professional and residential enclave just south of the downtown proper. Smith is the preferred route for runners heading to Wascana Park. On any given day, dozens upon dozens of people jog by. Forget selling lemonade, our daughter should set up a water station.


By day, the main floor of our newly-transformed property is visited by art lovers and curious passers-by who come to view the paintings and sculpture in our beautiful, modern gallery. By night, the gallery's wide open space becomes the perfect place for two, small children to ride bikes, run laps or play "gallery worker." Who said art galleries are stuffy!


Although we have lived in our new home less than two years, we have already discovered some "truths" about our unorthodox living arrangement.

One… With no commute, mornings are uncommonly laid-back. We even have time to put the kids in the stroller and enjoy a pre-work run around nearby Wascana Lake.


Two… There are great playgrounds downtown. Victoria Park, across the street from the Hotel Saskatchewan, is a family favourite. Our kids have played with children from all over the world who have been guests at the hotel. Plus, it's close to Atlantis coffee -- a bonus for mom and dad!


Three… No lawn to mow means more leisure time in Wascana Park.


Four… Neighbourhood restaurants equal less cooking. It feels good to support our fellow entrepreneurs.


Five… We can be impromptu tourists in our own city. We love visiting the Royal Saskatchewan Museum, although our three-year-old is scared to death of "Marty" the Moose. In consideration of our fellow museums-goers, we quickly figured out how to get through the exhibits without crossing Marty's path.

Yes, there are surprises around every corner when you are living up, downtown.


P.S. Everyone is welcome to visit our "reno" Tuesday through Saturday. Remember you can also browse our inventory of hundreds of fine artworks on this website. - Mary Weimer, Owner.