I’m very busy right now planning my art-purchasing strategy for 6x6x2015. This unique fundraising art exhibit, a benefit for the Rochester Contemporary Art Center, doesn’t open until June 6 (6/6, get it?), but I want to be ready. On opening night there’s a race to the walls by collectors who’ve already chosen their favorites, and I’m afraid someone will get to my first choice before I do. If that happens, I’ll have to pick another, and there will only be about 7,500 artworks left to choose from.
I have another concern: since each piece is small – only 6 by 6 inches – I may need more than one. Maybe I’ll choose three. Or six or seven. At only $20 apiece, a cluster of art is a bargain. The money goes to a good cause: RoCo has been presenting the work of renowned and emerging artists from New York State and around the world for nearly 40 years. It’s become a neighborhood anchor for artistic activity in downtown Rochester.
While I devise my master plan, Bleu Cease, the center’s executive director, is happily opening packages of donated art coming in from all 50 United States and more than 50 foreign countries.“It’s my favorite part,” he says. “It’s fun and interesting, and demonstrates the range of participants and their incredible generosity.
“We are looking to increase the international participation this year,” Cease adds. “We’ve already received artwork from Iceland and South Africa, two new participating countries.”
Any and all artists can submit their work for free – there’s no jury. Age and artistic ability don’t matter.
A particularly tantalizing aspect of the exhibit is that artists’ names remain a secret, only revealed to the buyer upon purchase. With submissions from noted artists that include Wendell Castle and Albert Paley, 6x6x2015 provides some provocative prospects at only $20 a pop.
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In Round Figures
• More than 2,000 artists are expected to exhibit
• Each artist may donateup to four works of art
• 6,000 people attended 6x6x2014
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April 19 – Deadline for art submissions
May 22 – Global Online Preview begins at 10 a.m. EST
June 1-5 – In-gallery preview, 1 to 9 p.m.
June 6 – Opening Party and Artwork Sale, 4 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $10.
7:30 – Raffle for buyers’ positions 1 through 20
8:00 – Purchasing opens for other buyers
June 9 – Global Online Purchasing begins at 10 a.m. EST
July 3 – Sold work displayed online, with artists’ names
July 12 – Exhibit closes
July 12-15 – Purchased artwork pickup, 12 to 8 p.m.
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Rochester Contemporary Art Center is located at 137 East Avenue. For more information, visit roco6x6.org.
by Tina Manzer
