Installation view COMBINE 2021 hosted by Griffin Art Projects.
DECEMBER 2-5, 2021
Thursday, December 2, 12:00-5:00pm
Friday, December 3, 12:00-5:00pm
Saturday, December 4, 12:00-5:00pm
Sunday, December 5, 12:00-5:00pm
COMBINE: an art fair
CONVERSATION | COMMUNITY | CONVIVIALITY
A collaboration between Franc Gallery – Griffin Art Projects - Monica Reyes Gallery - Unit 17 – Wil Aballe Art Projects
At Griffin Art Projects Residency
North Vancouver, BC
Griffin Art Projects is collaborating with four emerging Vancouver gallerists — Franc Gallery, Mónica Reyes Gallery, Unit 17, and Wil Aballe Art Projects — to present the inaugural COMBINE Art Fair from Dec. 2–5, 2021. Located at Griffin’s onsite residency spaces, the four-day event is the first art fair to take place on the North Shore. COMBINE is a platform for new and aspiring collectors to learn about the West Coast art scene, and an opportunity for seasoned collectors to discover the latest local talents.
“The Vancouver art ecosystem is built on a delicate balance of interconnected elements: artists, collectors, galleries, and institutions,” says Lisa Baldissera, director of Griffin Art Projects. “Each is equally important in the process of nurturing a rich, diverse art scene. COMBINE Art Fair brings together emerging galleries while supporting collectors and bolstering the visibility of incredible artists all in one space. At a time when travelling to global art fairs is out of reach for many, the fair offers an experimental, collaborative model that will help reinvigorate the local scene.”
Distinct from the typical art fair, COMBINE aims to raise awareness about the importance of patronage and foster the development of confident collectors throughout the city. The four gallerists approached Griffin, a collector-driven institution, to found the unique event following the suspension of global fairs in spring 2020. An idea borne of the pandemic, COMBINE highlights the resiliency of artists and demonstrates how art serves the local community. It’s a chance for members of the public to learn and grow alongside the galleries, all of which are less than a decade old. The annual event plans on expanding to exhibitors outside of the province in the future, following an invitation-only model rather than assigning booths by application.
For the inaugural edition, each gallery will present a variety of artists that best represents their programming. Affordable artworks by emerging artists will appeal to first-time buyers, while pieces by more established names will also be available for veteran collectors. Franc Gallery will present works by Matthis Grunsky, Glenn Lewis, and M.E. Sparks. Mónica Reyes Gallery will show Annie Briard, Elisabeth Perrault, Jayce Salloum, and others. Unit 17 will display works by Ezra Gray, Gabrielle L'Hirondelle Hill, Tania Willard, and more. Wil Aballe Art Projects will present Kate Metten, Daniel Giordano, Lyse Lemieux, Charles Campbell, and others.
The art fair will be accompanied by a thematic exhibition curated by Baldissera. Titled PIVOT, the group show will take place in the residency’s “bedroom” space, which will be transformed into a small gallery. An online panel discussion with the fair’s founders will take place on Sunday, Dec. 5, at 1pm. Co-hosted by Griffin and Contemporary Art Society of Vancouver, the talk will feature Wil Aballe (Wil Aballe Art Projects), Tobin Gibson (Unit 17), Ron Regan (Franc Gallery), Mónica Reyes (Mónica Reyes Gallery), and Lisa Baldissera (Griffin Art Projects).
The first edition of COMBINE Art Fair is dedicated to Andrew Gruft (1939–2021), a prominent member of the Canadian architectural community and a major collector of photography. Gruft and his wife, Claudia, founded NOVA Gallery, a pioneering commercial photography gallery that was the first to exhibit the work of Jeff Wall. Their collection was the focus of the Vancouver Art Gallery’s 2005 exhibition Real Pictures: Photographs from the Collection of Claudia Beck and Andrew Gruft; later the duo donated more than 550 photo-based works to the VAG which continues with their recent 2020 donation of almost 40 artworks.
COVID-19 protocols
All visitors must be double vaccinated and show proof upon entry. Cleaning and social distancing safety protocols will be followed to ensure a safe event for all. Admission is free, but must be booked in advance at griffinartprojects.ca/combine. Entry will be timed in 30-minute increments, with a maximum capacity of 10 guests.
“The Vancouver art ecosystem is built on a delicate balance of interconnected elements: artists, collectors, galleries, and institutions,” says Lisa Baldissera, director of Griffin Art Projects. “Each is equally important in the process of nurturing a rich, diverse art scene. COMBINE Art Fair brings together emerging galleries while supporting collectors and bolstering the visibility of incredible artists all in one space. At a time when travelling to global art fairs is out of reach for many, the fair offers an experimental, collaborative model that will help reinvigorate the local scene.”
Distinct from the typical art fair, COMBINE aims to raise awareness about the importance of patronage and foster the development of confident collectors throughout the city. The four gallerists approached Griffin, a collector-driven institution, to found the unique event following the suspension of global fairs in spring 2020. An idea borne of the pandemic, COMBINE highlights the resiliency of artists and demonstrates how art serves the local community. It’s a chance for members of the public to learn and grow alongside the galleries, all of which are less than a decade old. The annual event plans on expanding to exhibitors outside of the province in the future, following an invitation-only model rather than assigning booths by application.
For the inaugural edition, each gallery will present a variety of artists that best represents their programming. Affordable artworks by emerging artists will appeal to first-time buyers, while pieces by more established names will also be available for veteran collectors. Franc Gallery will present works by Matthis Grunsky, Glenn Lewis, and M.E. Sparks. Mónica Reyes Gallery will show Annie Briard, Elisabeth Perrault, Jayce Salloum, and others. Unit 17 will display works by Ezra Gray, Gabrielle L'Hirondelle Hill, Tania Willard, and more. Wil Aballe Art Projects will present Kate Metten, Daniel Giordano, Lyse Lemieux, Charles Campbell, and others.
The art fair will be accompanied by a thematic exhibition curated by Baldissera. Titled PIVOT, the group show will take place in the residency’s “bedroom” space, which will be transformed into a small gallery. An online panel discussion with the fair’s founders will take place on Sunday, Dec. 5, at 1pm. Co-hosted by Griffin and Contemporary Art Society of Vancouver, the talk will feature Wil Aballe (Wil Aballe Art Projects), Tobin Gibson (Unit 17), Ron Regan (Franc Gallery), Mónica Reyes (Mónica Reyes Gallery), and Lisa Baldissera (Griffin Art Projects).
The first edition of COMBINE Art Fair is dedicated to Andrew Gruft (1939–2021), a prominent member of the Canadian architectural community and a major collector of photography. Gruft and his wife, Claudia, founded NOVA Gallery, a pioneering commercial photography gallery that was the first to exhibit the work of Jeff Wall. Their collection was the focus of the Vancouver Art Gallery’s 2005 exhibition Real Pictures: Photographs from the Collection of Claudia Beck and Andrew Gruft; later the duo donated more than 550 photo-based works to the VAG which continues with their recent 2020 donation of almost 40 artworks.
COVID-19 protocols
All visitors must be double vaccinated and show proof upon entry. Cleaning and social distancing safety protocols will be followed to ensure a safe event for all. Admission is free, but must be booked in advance at griffinartprojects.ca/combine. Entry will be timed in 30-minute increments, with a maximum capacity of 10 guests.
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Griffin Art Projects 1174 Welch Street North Vancouver, BC V7P 1B2 |