Tuesday, April 10, 2012

b contemporary-The Interview


Hi all,
This week we took a field trip *insert Magic School Bus* ...

We were asked to walk around Hamilton and find someone interesting to interview.
Several of us decided to go to b contemporary - Fine Art and Custom Picture Framing.  We spoke with David Brace, whom is the owner of this shop.    We asked to interview him and he kindly agreed...




We just wanted to know what made you get into the industry?

He explained to us that it was just a natural step to him, as he started out as a fine art student, and being a painter.  He started working with artists directly.



How long have you been doing this for then?

 Since 1990, this gallery is a year old, previous gallery for 10 years, part of the art gallery of hamilton, and bouncing around all over the place.


What age did you get interested into this?

David started to get interested in art when he was about 12 or 13 years of age.  Started pursuing it more seriously by taking courses in highschool at around 14-15 years of age.  Only applied for art schools, he ended up going to Queens, but applied to oca, guelph..etc. 


Why do you have your business in Hamilton?

Lots of reasons: I grew up here, I like thats it's an emerging culture, it has percolated in the last 10 years or so, just the right place at right time... lots of really good artists, lots of good interest now.


Do you get a good amount of Traffic here?

A fair bit, yea … the street is changing a lot, especially on weekends I get more people.


How do u choose your art work/ the art that you put into your gallery?

Artists that go back 20 years that he's known, he calls upon them..

"Andy (Warhol) whom goes  back to late 70's , he's been showing for a long time"… David's been asked to show Andy's work … he's ben sent art through mail, e-mail all over the place .. if he's interested, he pursues,   then he talks to the artist-basically gets to know them and knows if they have a good connection then,  takes the next step by booking shows.  


Your artwork is very interesting, is there a specific genre that you call it?

David: Andy comes off as a pop art background.   He has several 12 yr+ pieces in his gallery. Andy's portraits show Young people in the emerging scene.   He was kind of part of that scene... and the guys from 'Chromosome'  in the 80's.  General Idea, was 3 guys who made art,  put on wacky fashion shows, and were media hounds.  So Andy documented things, 
Came to mac to teach, showed his students, they loved it and he started documenting some of the people he's seen.

He showed us several artworks of Andy's and they are simply amazing... 


It seems like he's implemented a lot of photography into his works?

David: Andy's always worked using photography - he'd make silk screens ..burn silk screen a silk screen from photograph, and then hand paint and then, pull ink through the screen.
He'd take photograph, layer it with whatever graphic he wants... takes his drawings and take transparencies...  

Basically a lot more digital now...photoshop is the next big tool.


How much do these pieces, on average sell for?
David: Depends on the artist...
Andy is a senior artist who is approaching 60 now..  He's nationally known, and established clientele     

He showed us some pieces from Andy and said, "$3000 for One Ops" -originals  $4500."  


If someones interested in buying his works, do they know to come here?

They do whatever they can to get the word out.. Andy is  on some media networks, all you really have to do is some research...


We graciously thanked him, and were on our way out, still glancing at all the artwork around and taking in the beauty of them.  

If any of you are interested and live by the Hamilton area, you should definitely go in and take a look, they have amazing artwork and it's a very peaceful place. When you're inside you don't hear the outside world or street traffic.


b contemporary
Fine Art and Custom Picture Framing

David Brace


E-mail: davidbrace@bcontemporary.ca

phone: 289 389 3949

Address: 226 James St., N
Hamilton, ON, Canada
L8R 2L3





Thank-you for stopping by, and I hope that this topic interested you, and that some of you actually continue to pursue this place.

Cheers, Veronica 








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