Today is our artist open house at The Underground Gallery and Studio!! Painting is complete and ready for moving in. From 12-5pm today, you can come by and look around, pick your spot on the wall and sign your membership agreement. We look forward to seeing everyone!! 1525 19th St. at Eye St. next to Riley's Taven.

The city is right now doing a beautification of 19th and Eye. It's down to one lane, dirt, and you can't get across 19th on Eye St. Parking is limited in that immediate area. However, they are offering free parking on the 1st level of the parking garage on 19th and Eye, which is very close to us. The construction is scheduled to be finished in August, and I'm sure it will look great. Until then, park in the garage, which in the summertime, free covered parking is a blessing!!

As most of you know, Jenn Williams was curator of the sadly now closed 18th St. Gallery. That is where Mike and I first met Jenn, and first experienced an art gallery in Bakersfield.

In the Spring of  2007, I happened to notice a posting on Bakotopia.com for the Watermarks show. I told Mike that he should enter a few pieces of his art work. After that one show, he was hooked, and rented his boutique space. A few months later, I too entered some of my photography in the Textures show. It was very exciting and something we had never had the pleasure of taking part in before.

It was great for Mike, to be appreciated for his type of work, and to have other artists with which to discuss art with. It was a great place to be, to look at everyone's art, or to just hang out, which everyone did at some point.

Without Jenn's encouragement, help, and overall enthusiastic attitude, many local artists would not have had a place to display their work, or come together with other local artisis. And  I, along with others I'm sure, would not have discovered the truely unique experience of displaying my photographs for the first time. I know that everyone's lives were changed, for the better, by having the 18th St. Gallery.

Now that it is gone, Mike and I are happy to be the ones to continue in it's footsteps. And, with the help of Jenn Williams, we will grow and flourish. Yes, Jenn will always be a part of our gallery, and will always have a home there, for her many amazing art pieces.

And, let us not forget, that the help and encouragement that Jenn was so willing to give, could not have been possible without the help and support of her sister Denise. I enjoyed many great conversations with Denise, and look forward to many, many more!! You two ladies deserve all the praise and recognition that I can give, and so much more!!! ♥

Together, we will bring Alternative Art to Bakersfield!!!!

Our membership levels and prices are explained in the categories below. By signing an Artist Lease Agreement, you are committing to that price and space for that allotted time period. You will still pay your rent on the 1st of every month. At the end of your leased time, you can opt to remain at that level, step up or down, based on the pricing you were given when you joined.


*Gallery Member - Largest space to display, show & sell their artwork, 1st choice of studio time to create. Gallery Members enjoy an upfront gallery wall space, by the large windows. And may be featured at times as a window easel display. Must Sign a 12 month agreement & contract. Display space determined at Open House
Monthly Fee $175.00



*Contributing Member - Large space to display, show and sell their artwork, 2nd choice to book Studio Time. Must Sign a 6 Month Agreement & Contract
Monthly Fee $125.00



*Studio Member - 3rd Choice to book studio time, and medium sized space to display, show and sell their artwork.. Sign 3 month Agreement & Contract
Monthly Fee $100.00



*Artist Member - 4th Choice to book studio time, and smaller space to display, show and sell their artwork. Sign 3 month Agreement & Contract
Monthly Fee $75.00



*Loft Member - A small section to display their works in our loft section of the gallery, in the back, upstairs. Studio time is granted only if there is space or a cancellation. Sign Agreement & Contract, on month to month basis, no commitments on time. Monthly Fee $30.00



All Members except The Loft Members, would be given a discount for pieces in monthly group shows.
Entry Fees to every show is $10 per piece, maximum $30 dollars, maximum entries 5.
Discount Entry fee is $5 per piece, maximum $15 dollars, maximum entries 5.
Subject to change, depending on the show theme and details.

All Members have to sign a contract and liability waiver
We understand that sometimes it's hard to pay on the 1st, so members would be given a 5 day grace period. If the 1st falls on a Sunday or Monday when the gallery is closed, the grace period will be extended by one business day. We all know "Starving Artist is not just a figure of Speech".


Prices are scheduled to increase one week after grand opening, if you purchase a membership of any kind before the 14th of June, you lock in the prices of opening day.
For example, if you purchase a Loft Membership, and you wish to increase your membership 6 months down the road to Studio Member, you pay the $100 per month, not the price increase amount. This is a courtesy to members who started with us at the beginning.


If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to send a message, here or at theundergroundgallery@gmail.com and either Mike or I will get back to you as soon as we can. We look forward to working with all of you, and can't wait to get started!!

SATURDAY APRIL 26, 2008

12-5PM

ARTIST OPEN HOUSE
@
THE UNDERGROUND
GALLERY AND STUDIO

1525 19th STREET
(between Chester Ave. & Eye St. on the south side
of 19th next to Riley's Tavern)
BAKERSFIELD, CA 93301


This is a day for all artists (participating artists only please) to come and look around, pick their wall space, and sign their lease agreements. At this time, we will also be accepting your first months payment, for May. If you like, you can also bring your pieces to be displayed.

Our first official opening day will be May 1st. Tentatively our hours will be 10am-7pm, closed Sunday and Monday.

On May 2nd we will be participating in First Friday, and will stay open until 8:30pm.

We'll also stay open later for street fairs and other special events. As well as being closed for holidays and other special days. For a while, it will just be me running things, with the help of Jenn Williams. Once we get the phone lines hooked up, I will give out the gallery number and you'll be able to get in contact with us.

If you have any questions or concerns, you can contact us on myspace, or theundergroundgallery@gmail.com

We will be finalizing our lease, and opening to accept art very soon. We plan to be open May 1st, and participate in First Friday, on May 2nd.

We have lots of wall space to fill!! It will go fast, so contact us today, to pick a premium spot for yourself!! There are all different levels of membership, for all different lifestyles and budgets.

If you have any questions, please let us know, and we'd be happy to fill you in on all the details.

~Tammy

Gallery Manager/Co-Owner