About The Society Syndicate
Ashleigh Dempster & Amanda Blakley are cultural curators and co-founders of The Society Global, a “culture club for the creative class” in Toronto, New York and more. Each week come back as they share some cultural crumbs from the front lines.
The Society Presents: How to Start an Art Collection
the society syndicate: collecting artcanada
(Aug.04.11)
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Katie Shipp, Amanda Blakley, Ashleigh Dempster & Annie Evans
With nary a gavel in sight, our How to Start an Art Collection event removed any stuffiness and exaggerated formality that many have come to associate with art collecting. Instead, as members arrived at The Wooly, sipping their Zacapa cocktails, they were greeted with a different sort of collectable art: Siwy Jeans, that had been transformed into pieces of art by three celebrated artists. Shelter Serra, Francesca DiMattio and John Gauld were hand selected by our panelists to collaborate on a special edition jean line with Siwy Denim. The result? A capsule collection that will be sold through Siwy’s website and the newly launched shopgreyarea.com.
Vogue Contributing Editor and Moda Operandi Co-Founder Lauren Santo Domingo moderated a lively and enlightening discussion between a panel of esteemed art enthusiasts comprised of: Monica Schwerin (Associate Director at Luhring Augustine), Philae Knight (Special Exhibitions Curator at Phillips de Pury & Company), Max Wolf (an independent curator and a Modern and Contemporary specialist at artnet.com) and Kyle DeWoody (a young collector and Co-Founder and Creative Director of Grey Area).
The synonymous number one word of advice? Buy what you love! Don't worry about buying something to fit your apartment- if you see something inherently wonderful in it, it will somehow work.
"I thoroughly enjoyed getting the inside scoop on how to start an art collection from four heavy hitters in the NY art world as well as our lovely moderator Lauren, a style icon with a unique perspective on collecting. I'm also a huge fan of Siwy jeans & wear them religiously so getting the opportunity to collaborate on a project with the gorgeous & uber talented designer herself Michelle Siwy was a big treat. Can't wait to snatch up a pair of jeans from the capsule collection!” – Annie Evans
“Being that this is New York and we all know that apartment square footage is rather limited, I am taking the art experts advice to heart and scouring online and at flea markets around the city to find pieces that I want in my apartment rather than what would characteristically work best in the space! I also enjoyed Lauren’s tidbit about her obsession with scrapbooking as I’m constantly pulling inspiration pieces from magazines and newspapers if not just for me but for my friends as well." – Katie Shipp