The Columbus Dispatch wrote Agora gathering attracts wide range of artists, patrons
Monday, October 15, 2007
By Kevin Joy
The weekend gathering, dubbed Agora III, marked the third such event staged by the Couchfire Collective — a 16-member network of artists formed last year to promote and engage the creative community.
The organization hopes that its pet project — a low-cost, low-key affair for art aficionados — will become as popular as the Short North Gallery Hop.
For artists wanting exposure, the $5 entry fee allows them to display one to three pieces inside Junctionview Studios — the warehouse that hosts each Agora and rents space to artists and performers.
Unlike mainstream galleries that collect 30 percent to 50 percent in commissions from sales, Brouillette said, the Couchfire Collective asks 10 percent and uses the money for future shows.
A donation of $2 is requested of each visitor.
The first Agora, in November, featured 70 artists and stunned organizers when it drew 600 people. The second event, in April, saw roughly 250 artists and 3,000 patrons.
On Saturday, about 2,000 visitors sampled the work of 300 artists and 20 performers dispersed amid a dizzying array of corridors and open spaces, and an outdoor tent.
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