Last winter a group of Fredericton artists took some time from their day jobs to make Shift Work, an art gallery experience without the pressure.
“It’s the same idea. There’s art, sometimes there’s food, there’s some booze and people looking at art, but it’s way more relaxed and way less like a gallery opening when you go to a Shift Work show,” said Shift Work artist Penelope Stevens.
Shift Work began last November with four members planning their first show for May 2014. Now, Shift Work is made up of more than 10 local artists who have four art shows under their belt.
“There’s a lot of artists in Fredericton, or everywhere for that matter, who work full time or part time and have a table in their apartment where they draw sometimes but never really get to show in a gallery so this is just a little chance to do that,” said Stefen Westner, one of Shift Work’s co-founders.
Westner and Stevens agree that a big part of what they do together is working on making art galleries less intimidating.
“We’ve had good turnouts for all the shows. I like that it’s really casual. I think people like that too because those who don’t go to galleries often, when they do try, it can be kind of drastic,” said Westner.
Their shows take place wherever they can find the space. Their last pop-up print show gallery during Harvest Jazz & Blues took place in Westner’s studio above Backstreet Records. Having shows in familiar, laid-back environments makes having fun at art shows that much easier.
“I think the Shift Work people have done a good job at creating an environment where there isn’t a stigma about going to see art. People want to go and see their friends and hang out there too, said Stevens, “I think (Shift Work) will continue to get bigger and better.”
Not only are Shift Work shows more like parties than actual gallery openings, they’re also opportunities for artists who participate to learn new skills from other artist.
“One of the best parts about the shows that wasn’t expected so much, is the fact that a lot of people have started doing new things. Having an inspiration to do it, and then learning how to do it – like make a screen-print for the first time,” said Stevens.
The past 11 months have taught artists not only how to work within new mediums, but also about what goes into planning, organizing and putting on their own art shows.
“Just learning how to hang things, how to measure things, how to frame things, these are all skills that some of us had, and a lot of us didn’t have, but we are learning as we go,” said Stevens.
Westner hopes to see Shift Work grow, but more importantly he wants more people to enjoy and have fun with seeing and creating art as much as he does.
“I want to encourage people to look at art. It doesn’t have to be hard and it doesn’t have to be complicated.”
