by Bailey White
Staff Writer
A Savannah-based art promotion company is teaming with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra to bring the works of up and coming visual artists to symphony patrons.
Beginning with this weekend’s symphony events, which include a Masterworks Series concert and the Edward Waters College’s annual benefit concert featuring Ray Charles, Gallerybyte.com will have regular art showings at the T-U Center during performances.
“We look for ways to bring exposure to the artists we represent, and this is a great way to collaborate with another art form,” said Jason Chervenak, who along with partner Darrin Kay, founded Gallerybyte.com in December 2001. “This is a great venue because it’s already full of art enthusiasts.”
The partnership works well for the JSO because they’ll receive a portion of the proceeds from art sales.
“The exciting thing about the show is that it’s really fresh for Jacksonville,” said Kevin Eitzenberger, JSO’s director of marketing. “I’ve always wanted to juxtapose symphonic music with artwork; it is a natural partnering. I’m thrilled to see this kind of expression in Jacksonville.”
Eitzenberger and Chervenak plan to continue the collaboration next JSO season, too, when there will be at least five or six shows.
Gallerybyte.com did similar work with the Savannah Symphony Orchestra and Chervenak says he can turn any space into a fully functioning gallery.
It is the Gallerybyte.com website, however, that is one of the most innovative ways the company promotes the artists it represents. And once the redesigned version is launched this summer, artists will be able to update their online portfolios themselves.
“The website makes the promotion of our artists much more time and cost efficient,” said Chervenak, adding that the idea of Gallerybyte.com was conceived when he realized that only a small percentage of students who graduate with art degrees actually pursue careers in the art world.
“Only about five percent of people who graduate with a master’s of fine arts degree are still practicing art at the age of 30,” he said.
This weekend’s exhibition, entitled Almanac, includes the work of seven artists. Works are 2-D and 3-D pieces of every imaginable media. The exhibition runs through Sunday.