and so it begins…

Well, this has been a long time coming.  I started brainstorming the idea for Paper House Press over a year ago.  I knew I wanted to create an online exhibition space that not only featured original art from some of my favorite artists, but would also be a venue for promoting the talented artists who participate.

A little background info on me:

My name is Brian Downey.  I have worked in the arts for years.  Currently I work as Associate Director and Curator of a contemporary art gallery in the heart of downtown Nashville, Tennessee.  I have had the pleasure of working with some extremely talented artists over the past decade and I see Paper House Press as an exciting opportunity to build even more relationships with unique artists from all over the world.  I spend a great deal of my time researching artists and planning unique exhibitions that engage and excite the viewer.  This is my biggest passion in life.  So, why do I want to branch out to the online community?  When you think of the number of people who walk through an art gallery on any given day, it pales in comparison to the number of people who visit an art blog, engage in social media, or search for something unique online every single day.

So, what sets Paper House Press apart from the other websites devoted to selling art? 

A few things.  But honestly, I am not trying to compete with other online shops and galleries.  Each of those sites is important and beneficial to building an strong, online contemporary arts community.  It’s all about promoting the artists, the artwork, and the presence of contemporary art online.

Some exciting incentives for artists featured on Paper House Press:

In addition to being featured on the Paper House Press website and having your original work displayed (and for sale) in our online gallery, Paper House Press offers some additional incentives for the participating artists:

The Paper House Press Annual Issue – The Paper House Press Annual Issue is a beautiful, and artistically designed, bound publication that is printed annually and features the original works of art that were created for Paper House Press in that given year.  In addition to high-quality images, the Annual Issue will also feature artist bios, websites and contact info which will be included in each artist profile in the issue.

In closing…

I am taking a leap of faith with Paper House Press.  Starting a business, even an online business, is scary in this economy.  When you are passionate about what you are doing, and can think of nothing else, I think that’s a pretty good sign that you need to pursue it.  So that’s what I am finally doing.  I am beginning to contact some of my favorite artists and am hopeful that they will join me on this exciting journey.  I hope that I will have lots exciting news and updates to share as the process begins.  So, please check back often!