Meet The Artists At The Young Collectors Contemporary This Weekend

Meet The Artists At The Young Collectors Contemporary This Weekend

Ed. Note: Veena is here to tell us about Young Arts Patron's event this weekend, the fourth annual Youth Collectors Contemporary: several days of art shows, art sales, workshops, and speakers. It's happening this Friday through Sunday, with the big party and art sale on Friday at Crosstown Arts at 7 p.m. You can find out more on the YCC website and purchase tickets for any or all of the events here.


What Is The Young Collectors Contemporary?

The fourth edition of the Young Collectors Contemporary is right around the corner! I had the opportunity to speak with Whitney Hardy, founder of Young Arts Patrons (and the brains behind the YCC) about the importance of the conference and art fair in the Memphis arts scene.

In front of the Birdcap + Sentrock mural at Crosstown Arts. Philip Murphy, provided by YAP.

The mission of Young Arts Patrons is to link audiences with emerging art to better support the arts economy. What began as a simple Meetup is now a group of powerhouse women who connect community members (that's you) and artists. Young Arts Patrons is proof that Memphis does have a strong art patron community, i.e., people who enjoy going to art openings, having artistic conversations, and supporting creative work. Young Art Patrons hosts plenty of events throughout the year

The Young Collectors Contemporary highlights up-and-coming artists from around the country, allowing these artists to reach new audiences. They can meet and learn from one another, and Memphians can meet them and check out their work. In the words of Whitney, "it's four-day party celebrating artists and collectors".

Photo by Philip Murphy, provided by YAP. (Whitney Hardy in center.)

Young Collectors Contemporary Schedule

Friday, March 22: Workshops and Opening Night Party 

Friday night is a giant party in Crosstown Arts (sponsored by NEXAIR) where you can mix and mingle with the artists and buy their art. Artists are coming in from Seattle, Brooklyn, Baltimore, Nashville, Atlanta, Charleston, and more to showcase their wares, in addition to local Memphis artists who will have items for sale. Food for this party will be provided by Paradox Catering and is included in the ticket price. Tickets are $35, or $50 with alcoholic beverages. (Plus fees.) 

Earlier that day, Amy Walleston, faculty member at Sotheby’s Institute of Art, will lead a sold-out masterclass on arts journalism: a topic conference organizers feel is lacking in Memphis. Aspiring writers will workshop pieces to better be able to write art criticism and to fill in the knowledge gaps that exist. 

On Friday afternoon De Nichols, an artist and activist from St. Louis, will lead a workshop around community and the arts that is designed to bring together artists and community organizations. According to Whitney, there are not enough opportunities to bring both sides to the table to learn from one another. Tickets for this workshop are still available for purchase at time of publication. 

Saturday, March 23: TED-Talks Style Speakers

Saturday will follow a TEDx format, with artists and journalists coming to speak. One of the keynotes is Allison Glenn, the Associate Curator for Contemporary Art at Crystal Bridges Museum of Art, who will be making her first visit to Memphis. The entire day will focus on the state of the arts, social justice, mental health, innovation, and more and sounds like it will be an incredible experience. Tickets are $50 (plus fees) and include access for Saturday and Sunday

Sunday, March 24: Workshops and Mimosas

Sunday will feature vignettes on incorporating art into your home with Shavonda Gardner, a designer and blogger from Sacramento, and Carmeon Hamilton, a local interior designer. Both women will speak about the role art plays in interiors, and there will be mimosas all around!

(Thursday night there's also a sold-out Progressive Dinner Art Bus Tour. Keep a look out for it next year.)

 

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See Work From Local & National Artists at YCC

One featured artist is Memphis native and current MCA student Anna Bearman, whose work will be on display for the first time. Anna and Whitney met during Anna'a internship at Epicenter co-working space in Cooper Young (which is Whitney's day job), and Anna is on the Creatives Council with Young Art Patrons. 

Anna Bearman Self Portrait. Provided by the artist.

Anna attended YCC in 2018 and met “so many genuinely cool artists” who inspired her to focus more of her time on her personal work, the result of which is being featured at this year’s event. Anna’s take is that the more time spent around other freelancers and artists increases her drive to create, and she is excited about the exposure being featured might bring. As a native Memphian she is especially excited that this event was started by local Memphians from the ground up and is the first event of its kind in the area.

More About The Young Collectors Contemporary

Whitney is quick to point out that this event cannot happen without the awesome YAP team (Claire Brulatour, Whitney, Emily Oppenheimer, Denise Parnell, and Mary Webster) along with support from the Creatives Council and local collectors. Her hope is that this event will encourage more young collectors to interact with artists and engage in conversation.

L to R: Emily Oppenheimer, Mary Webster, Claire Brulatour, Whitney Hardy, Denise Parnell. Photo by Veena Rangaswami.

Overall the YCC sounds like an awesome event bringing together artists and community members to celebrate the role art plays in all our lives, and I cannot wait to attend and see it all for myself. And maybe pick up a thing or two for my house!

Again, you can find out more on the YCC website and purchase tickets for any or all of the events here. Tickets for Friday’s opening night party are $50 with alcohol included, or $35 without alcohol. The Saturday + Sunday pass is $50 +fees and gets you in the art fair, to all the speakers, and the interior design tour. Events on Friday-Sunday will take place in the Crosstown Arts spaces at the Concourse, and Saturday’s talks will be in the Crosstown Theater.

 

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Go There:

Young Collectors Contemporary 2019
Crosstown Arts, Crosstown Theater
March 21 - 24, 2019

$35 - $50 Friday's Opening Night Party
$50 Weekend Pass (Saturday + Sunday only)
+ fees


About The Author
Veena Rangaswami grew up on the banks of the Mississippi River, and after many years of splitting her time between Memphis and India, she has finally returned full-time to the 901. By day she is a program specialist for the Bridge Builders program at BRIDGES, and by night she can be found reading and writing, eating her way around Memphis, cheering on her favorite sports teams, plotting her next out-of-town adventure, and pretending to be a runner. All she wants is a lifetime supply of Dr. Pepper and to see the Grizz bring home an NBA Championship. Read about her adventures, and follow along for yourself on Instagram and Twitter.

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