by Bailey White
Staff Writer
Joy Walker, the owner of The Art Center of the World, has come up with a different way to promote the artists her company represents.
For the past few days, she and her staff have been working overtime to fill the first and second floors of the old Barnett Bank building on West Adams Street with over 300 sculptures, photographs and paintings, all of which will be on the auction block Saturday night.
“We’re trying to bring some fun to art,” said Walker. “We’re taking art to a whole new level.”
This weekend will mark the first for an event Walker plans to host once a month at the Barnett building. Her company represents local artists and is adding clients from around the country in an attempt to help the artists market themselves and sell more of their work.
“As it is,” said Walker, “there are some really great artists out there who have never sold. We’re trying to show people that they can buy a high quality, original work for just a little more than a print at the department store.”
Walker, who currently has office space in the building, said she is excited about being able to hold the event downtown.
“We all know about the exciting things happening downtown and this is a great place to display art,” she said of the building. “I think this is all part of downtown’s revitalization.”
Walker said The Art Center of the World will be opening its own downtown space soon, hopefully by the end of the year. Then they’ll be able to hold auctions and exhibitions in any of the three galleries. Walker also plans to provide educational tools and classes for artists.
“We want to teach them about marketing themselves, talk to them about copyrighting, or how to do prints and calenders.” said Walker. “And we’ll be encompassing performing arts as well.”
The company is also producing a website which, beginning in June, will stream live shots of art and performance art over the Internet.
“People will be able to bid on pieces of art over the Internet or by calling us,” said Walker.
The show is open today between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. and Saturday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday’s auction starts at 7 p.m. The public is welcome to attend.