Arts Educator Initiates Proactive Marketing Plan With Class

March 2009
Winston-Salem

Artistic Synergy came about as a vehicle to provide local artists a direct way to expose their work to a portion of the public that might never attend a gallery opening nor meet an art representative. There have always been more artists creating quality artwork than there are galleries to display that work. And although artists are very creative when it comes to producing unique art, those talents don’t always extend to marketing and publicizing their work.

"As an art teacher in Forsyth Tech's Corporate and Continuing Education Program, and a professional artist, I decided there had to be a better way to reach the public." says Ginnie Conaway of the program. "Winston Salem has a proud tradition of community art exhibits in public offices and retail locations, as well as several organizations who host juried art exhibits, but none are focused on selling art."

Last spring Conaway challenged her students, many of whom are very talented artists in their own right, to find a unique place to sell their work. "They didn't disappoint me," she recalls "and in October and November of this past fall, we held three art sales events." The events were held at the Briar Patch Garden Center on S. Stratford Rd, Kim Taylor & Co., an interior design and gift shop, in Stratford Place, and L.A. Reynolds Garden Showcase on Styers Ferry Rd., hosted on consecutive weekends. "In each event we had over 20 artists and a few craft-persons, each putting in about ten pieces of work. In those three unlikely locations we sold over $5,700 of reasonably priced artwork. For some of my artists it was the first time they'd sold any of their own work. And so, Artistic Synergy was born."

The event held at L.A. Reynolds Garden Showcase during their Christmas Open House was very popular both with the public and the artists. The group was invited back to hold a smaller sale of gift priced artwork in mid-December, which was also well received.

"Ken Long of L.A. Reynolds has been most positive about our events and has invited us to return this year during their Spring Open House on April 4-5," says Conaway of the upcoming event. "Artistic Synergy will have painters, photographers, quilters, potters, a wood-turner, a scrimshaw artist and a blacksmith in this event."

The name came about quite naturally. "We have taken the name of Artistic Synergy because we are stronger working together and helping each other than any one of us is by ourselves."

Ginnie Conaway at 336-721-0916 or visit Her WEBSITE

Article & Photos Submitted by Ginnie Conaway, Artistic Synergy