The 2013 Exposure Open Air Art Market will take over Taipei Artist Village (台北國際藝術村) June 15. The free day-long event, which also includes live music, food, drink vendors and a magician, provides the perfect opportunity for almost two dozen Taiwan-based artists to show and sell their works in a lively and family-friendly setting.
Exposure has quickly become one of the not-to-be-missed dates on the Taipei events calendar, and that suits organizers Shawn May and Felicia Rodrigues just fine. The two met through mutual friends in 2011, and had their first event up and running within three months.
Now in its fifth incarnation, next week’s Exposure promises to be bigger and better than ever, and May is buzzing with excitement. “We have a lot of new artists, and a lot of returning artists,” he told the Taipei Times. “We also have the best overall lineup for music, so this time we’ve moved the bands to the front.”
Photo courtesy of Felicia Rodrigues
It’s precisely that heady mix of art and music that has made Exposure extremely popular with both visitors and artists alike. The event is a relaxed Saturday afternoon in the sun listening to free live music, with the possibility of finding a little something special to hang on the wall. But for participating artists like painter Adam Dupuis and woodcut printer Jon Renzella, Exposure is a vehicle that allows them to reach a much broader audience than is ordinarily possible for expats in Taiwan.
This year’s Exposure marks the third time Dupuis has participated. He said that he’s looking forward to having his work seen by large numbers of potential buyers, but he’s also eager to meet like-minded creative talents from around the country. “As an artist, you paint away in a room by yourself,” Dupuis said. “When you do solo shows, you’re still by yourself. At Exposure, you get a chance to meet and know all the other artists.”
Renzella, who runs Lei Gallery in Greater Taichung, agrees that events like Exposure are essential for artistic growth. “Our circle of connections in the Taiwan foreigner community is much bigger than it would be back home,” Renzella said. “Everybody here has a passion. The more people you know, the more inspiration, collaboration and opportunity you have.”
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