Small Gallery Helps Promote Small Artists

Small Gallery Helps Promote Small Artists

By Kenneth Bullock
January 24, 2014
Mudpuppy Gallery

An Amherstburg art gallery is encouraging emerging artists to come in and put their pieces on display.

Robert Honor, is a local artist and one of the five founders of Mudpuppy Gallery. Honor says the gallery’s main goal is to provide an area where artists can promote their art for minimal cost. Besides drawings, you can find photographs, paintings, and occasionally crafted art such as wood carvings. Studies on the art industry show many artists need promotion of their work in order to further themselves in the business.

“We have had many different types of art come through here over the years”, said Honor.
Each month Mudpuppy has a distinct theme to the art it shows on its walls. During January, pictures of snowy landscapes cover the walls. Pictures of animals such as wolves, bunnies, and owls appear next to fields of white.

Michelle Wilson is in charge of social networking, and relations with other businesses in Amherstburg. Wilson serves as a secretary, usually calling artists whose pieces have been sold.

“We have over 600 contacts, many of them are artists from around the Windsor/Essex area,” said Wilson.

Wilson and Honor say well-known artists from Windsor and Amherstburg stop in to check out new art. Mudpuppy engages in different activities to promote artistic endeavors. Book signings are held along with books being available for sale. The gallery also runs “Beat Nights,” which are open-mic events where poets, singers, authors, and comedians. Mudpuppy works with the Downtown Espresso Bar in Amherstburg to organize the events. Wilson attracts customers at the bar to Mudpuppy during intermissions.

Originally Mudpuppy’s main intention wasn’t promoting the artwork of others.

“The fives of us originally planned to showcase just our art,” said Honor.

The group of ultimately decided it would be better to promote their fellow artists rather than compete against them. Mudpuppy’s next beat night is being held January 25, 2014 at Downtown Espresso Bar.