Great article in the Gazette Feb 5 2013 about artist Marie-Anne Ricci
Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/entertainment/Hanging+around+with+artists/7916041/story.html#ixzz2Ljo86ypI
Marie-Anne Ricci has reached out to artists in Montreal by accepting the work of anyone who wants to sell their pieces. Here she is seen with her daughter, Mackenzie-May in Boutik Arts Dans le Coin.
Photograph by: Marie-France Coallier , Montreal Gazette
MONTREAL - Anyone walking by Boutik Arts Dans le Coin might think the four-month-old store is struggling. But the sparse interior and late opening hours are just how this retail store moonlights as an art gallery. Renting the walls is a welcome revenue stream for a small business that relies primarily on selling artwork on consignment for income.
Marieanne Ricci, the owner, is also the store’s only employee. She prides herself on accepting the art of anyone who wants to sell their pieces. There is no judgment for those who want space in the store — only a waiting list.
Ricci spent years as a struggling writer trying to break into the publishing industry and says she started Boutik Arts Dans le Coin as a response to what she sees as an art world that’s out of reach for most new artists.
“I took my book in one hand and my frustration in the other hand and thought that one day, when I could, I would create a space for people like me to have a chance to display their stuff.”
Ricci makes a point to stock a variety of items. The store has paintings all over the walls and plenty of room in front of them to stand and have a good look. In the centre of the store there’s a clump of tables and racks displaying fuzzy socks, jewellery and even gothic plushies — a favourite of Ricci’s 4-year-old daughter, Mackenzie-May. Near the back are shelves of ceramic tableware and oversized birdhouses.
Because she opened the store out of empathy for other struggling artists, she connects with them in a way that has turned Boutik Arts into its own community.
“The idea of my store, it’s not just a business, it’s a movement,” Ricci said. “And everyone who’s a part of this store understands. I think (artists are) striving for someone to care.”
One of the artists on display, Sandra Alain, has only been in Montreal for a year and a half. She came to the city knowing no one in the industry and tried to establish herself as a professional artist. But the formalities of approaching most galleries intimidated her.
“It’s very clique-y,” Alain said of the Montreal art scene. “I think a lot of it is who you know. And when you don’t know anyone, it’s hard to get into it.”
Alain calls the store a gathering place for artists. She spends afternoons in Boutik Arts Dans le Coin either painting new work or drawing with Mackenzie-May.
Ricci said running the store is so rewarding that the amount of effort she puts into it doesn’t faze her.
“I think because I’m a single mom, to be honest, I’m so used to multi-tasking that this doesn’t seem like that much work.”
Finding the capital needed to start the business was a lot of work, though. Ricci went to the bank a couple of times hoping for a small business loan. She was equipped with a presentation and business plan only to find out that to borrow money she needed to be able to guarantee it. She wasn’t able to do so personally and didn’t want to burden anyone else with that responsibility.
She was hoping for $25,000 to $30,000 so she could open her doors and have some extra in case of bad months. She ended up getting the capital she needed from her family and they donated their time to help her renovate the store. In the end, it cost her $15,000 to open.
Marieanne Ricci, the owner, is also the store’s only employee. She prides herself on accepting the art of anyone who wants to sell their pieces. There is no judgment for those who want space in the store — only a waiting list.
Ricci spent years as a struggling writer trying to break into the publishing industry and says she started Boutik Arts Dans le Coin as a response to what she sees as an art world that’s out of reach for most new artists.
“I took my book in one hand and my frustration in the other hand and thought that one day, when I could, I would create a space for people like me to have a chance to display their stuff.”
Ricci makes a point to stock a variety of items. The store has paintings all over the walls and plenty of room in front of them to stand and have a good look. In the centre of the store there’s a clump of tables and racks displaying fuzzy socks, jewellery and even gothic plushies — a favourite of Ricci’s 4-year-old daughter, Mackenzie-May. Near the back are shelves of ceramic tableware and oversized birdhouses.
Because she opened the store out of empathy for other struggling artists, she connects with them in a way that has turned Boutik Arts into its own community.
“The idea of my store, it’s not just a business, it’s a movement,” Ricci said. “And everyone who’s a part of this store understands. I think (artists are) striving for someone to care.”
One of the artists on display, Sandra Alain, has only been in Montreal for a year and a half. She came to the city knowing no one in the industry and tried to establish herself as a professional artist. But the formalities of approaching most galleries intimidated her.
“It’s very clique-y,” Alain said of the Montreal art scene. “I think a lot of it is who you know. And when you don’t know anyone, it’s hard to get into it.”
Alain calls the store a gathering place for artists. She spends afternoons in Boutik Arts Dans le Coin either painting new work or drawing with Mackenzie-May.
Ricci said running the store is so rewarding that the amount of effort she puts into it doesn’t faze her.
“I think because I’m a single mom, to be honest, I’m so used to multi-tasking that this doesn’t seem like that much work.”
Finding the capital needed to start the business was a lot of work, though. Ricci went to the bank a couple of times hoping for a small business loan. She was equipped with a presentation and business plan only to find out that to borrow money she needed to be able to guarantee it. She wasn’t able to do so personally and didn’t want to burden anyone else with that responsibility.
She was hoping for $25,000 to $30,000 so she could open her doors and have some extra in case of bad months. She ended up getting the capital she needed from her family and they donated their time to help her renovate the store. In the end, it cost her $15,000 to open.
Ricci said she was lucky to get the retail space that she did. A lot of the commercial leases on Sherbrooke St. W. require owners to sign for a minimum of five years.
“I thought, what if I can only do this for a year?” Ricci said. “But this (lease) was only a year. And I told myself I’d give myself a year and if I could make it past the first nine months, I’d sign for another two years.”
She said that financially she is “just floating” right now. The store earns revenue by taking a 25-per-cent cut of each item sold. But she is also exploring renting her walls as a gallery while she uses the shelves to sell other work.
Ricci aims to have artists who want to use her store as a gallery commit to at least a week considering the amount of work involved in setting things up. Ricci charges $600 per week for the gallery service and said other galleries charge up to $900 per week.
“Financially, I’d like to do it for less. But to keep helping other people I need to stay afloat.”
She did the first few gallery shows for free to start building a name for her store. Ricci said she would love to have the extra funds needed to advertise, but for now relies on Facebook and the community to get the word out about Boutik Arts. She’s optimistic about the future.
“The way that people are responding, and the opportunities that are already happening, I think it’s only a matter of time for when I’ll start making money. All the signs are pointing to that. Good things are happening.”
Boutik Arts Dans le Coin, 5516 Sherbrooke St. W. Contact: 514-508-8776. Website: facebook.com/BoutikArtsDansLeCoin
“I thought, what if I can only do this for a year?” Ricci said. “But this (lease) was only a year. And I told myself I’d give myself a year and if I could make it past the first nine months, I’d sign for another two years.”
She said that financially she is “just floating” right now. The store earns revenue by taking a 25-per-cent cut of each item sold. But she is also exploring renting her walls as a gallery while she uses the shelves to sell other work.
Ricci aims to have artists who want to use her store as a gallery commit to at least a week considering the amount of work involved in setting things up. Ricci charges $600 per week for the gallery service and said other galleries charge up to $900 per week.
“Financially, I’d like to do it for less. But to keep helping other people I need to stay afloat.”
She did the first few gallery shows for free to start building a name for her store. Ricci said she would love to have the extra funds needed to advertise, but for now relies on Facebook and the community to get the word out about Boutik Arts. She’s optimistic about the future.
“The way that people are responding, and the opportunities that are already happening, I think it’s only a matter of time for when I’ll start making money. All the signs are pointing to that. Good things are happening.”
Boutik Arts Dans le Coin, 5516 Sherbrooke St. W. Contact: 514-508-8776. Website: facebook.com/BoutikArtsDansLeCoin
Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/entertainment/Hanging+around+with+artists/7916041/story.html#ixzz2Ljo86ypI
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