Violet Strays

Contact: Serrah Russell / Alyssa Volpigno
Email: violetstrays@gmail.com
Website: www.violetstrays.com

How is the project operated?
For-profit, artist-run.

How long has it been in existence?
Violet Strays began in April 2011.

What was your motivation?
To provide a platform and opportunity for both emerging and established artists, writers, and creatives to experiment and connect and to use the internet as a new landscape for creating work.

Number of organizers/responsible persons of the project.
2

How are programs funded?
Personal funding, donations, sales from the Violet Strays online shop.

Who is responsible for the programming?
Co-founders and directors, Serrah Russell and Alyssa Volpigno.

Number and average duration of exhibitions/events per year.
Approximately 20 online exhibitions, each exhibition is 2 weeks in duration.

What kind of events are usually organized?
Violet Strays primarily curates online exhibitions and also promotes artists through seasonal pop-up events and exhibitions.

How is your programming determined?
Programing is determined through planning and curation between Serrah Russell and Alyssa Volpigno.

Do you accept proposals/submissions?
Yes, the Violet Strays website has a form for submissions.

What is your artistic/curatorial approach?
Our curatorial approach at Violet Strays is to invite artists to participate who we believe will use the internet platform in a thoughtful and inventive way. We also spend time meeting with the artists we are interested in showing in person so we can help them think about how to take best utilize of the online, temporal space.

What’s working? What’s not working?
Showing Seattle artists through the online exhibition format is working well for Violet Strays and is building a great following in the Seattle artist community. We are looking to reach out to and connect with art communities outside of Seattle and to continue to use the internet as a tool for experimentation and conversation.

What kind of role do you hope to play in your local art scene or community?
Violet Strays seeks to provide an accessible way for people to view artwork and to provide a unique platform for artists to create site-specific, temporal work.

What idea are you most excited about for the future?
Violet Strays is excited to continue to promote artists through the internet, grow our online shop, and participate in more pop-up events and exhibitions, both within Seattle and beyond.

_

_

Images courtesy of Violet Strays.