Let’s embrace it!

Walkthearts in Florence while visiting Palazzo Strozzi Let's Get Digital

Last summer in Florence, during Studio Italia, I was skeptical when I bought my ticket for the exhibition Let’s Get Digital NFTs and Innovation in Digital Art. I had to know if NFT art is and will be a fad or not. In Canada’s national capital (Ottawa) art world, I kept hearing that it is not going to last, it’s all smoke and mirrors, ya-ya-ya, etc. So, I entered the Palazzo Strozzi with an open mind. I saw the works, I read everything on the walls, and I came out of the exhibition thinking “It is here to stay.” From that moment, on la Via de’ Tomabuoni, I felt compelled as an art historian and art educator to embrace this new reality. Didn’t we do it for Pop Art and Conceptual Art in the late ’50s and ‘60s?

Back in Canada, I got informed of this new vision of art currently turning everything upside down. I have followed an excellent two-day seminar on the question, taken an NFT class on Udemy, and while in New York City, I bought at the MoMA the last copy of The Story of NFTs. I am currently devouring this book ¾ summary to come in another post. Indeed! NFTs are here to stay!

Believe it or not, I am now curating an NFT exhibit on behalf of BRAVO, a small art organization in Ontario. We received a modest grant from the Arts Council of Ontario. The money is not yet in the bank, but the call to artists has been completed. We have enough money for a maximum of 7 curious artists to partake in this adventure with us. This grant is conditional on the work being shown in a public gallery member of the Ontario Art Galleries Association.

I have already approached a few galleries, but all seem hesitant ¾ one already declined. It seems they have the very same doubts I had before visiting the show in Florence. I also felt a flicker of apprehension, and for valid reasons: artist’s rights, presentation issues, reception from the public … It is true that it takes courage to present such an exhibition in POGGish Ontario. But isn’t the role of art to fuel new ideas and new visions? I will always persevere in my “apostolate”, to lead people to the love of Art.

Of course that more public galleries in Ontario will be contacted. However, all of you, who belong to the Walk the Arts community around the world, can you help me bring this exhibit to your place? All I need is a small alcove of 20 × 20 feet. There are no artworks to be transported since they are on the blockchain; tablets or printed works suffice.  It is an easy show to put up, but with a difficult concept to apprehend. But as soon as you understand NFTs, I assure you that you will fall in love with this new way of seeing and acquiring art. I strongly recommend everyone to fully embrace it!

 

17 Comments

  1. HYACINTH PAUL

    I think this is here to stay and I’m glad you are doing this. I will check with my local galleries if they would give us the space. Thank you!

     
    Reply
    • Yves M. Larocque

      Merci Hyacinth.

       
      Reply
    • Nancy Brandsma

      I submitted for this project. In all honesty I don’t understand NFTs but I am an artist and I am curious and willing to learn and explore this new avenue with the group. I hope to he part of it. Great article Yves…you truly are avant-garde!

       
      Reply
      • Yves M. Larocque

        Thank You very much Nancy!

         
        Reply
  2. Peter Iveson iveson

    Do not know what to think?

     
    Reply
    • Yves M. Larocque

      Peter! Think of something. 🙂

       
      Reply
  3. Luc Alain

    Fascinant! Merci pour ce post. Une exposition NFT serait-elle possible en 2024 à La Fab à Chelsea?

    Je peux mener la charge!

     
    Reply
    • Yves M. Larocque

      Of course. Tu mènes à la charge.

       
      Reply
  4. Michelle Havenstein

    Hi Yves, interesting article, but I don’t actually know what NFTs are. Can you explain a little?

     
    Reply
    • Yves M. Larocque

      Just follow this class on Udemy, and you will understand everything. “NFT MASTERY for Creators – Beginner to Advanced 2022 Course”.

       
      Reply
  5. Sarah Cowling

    I am not sure about NFTs but how about the Satellite Gallery in London?

     
    Reply
    • Yves M. Larocque

      That would be great! Is the gallery a member of the Ontario Gallery Association? Would you be ready to be our link?

       
      Reply
      • Sarah Cowling

        Hi Yves, I am not sure about whether it is a member of the Ontario Gallery Association but it is affiliated with Museum London, Fanshawe College and Western university. You can find it on google and I would be happy to help. Let me know

         
        Reply
  6. Carole Ince

    I think this is very exciting and I am grateful for your inspiration to explore and take a deep dive into NFT’s!!!

     
    Reply
  7. Paula Zoubek

    I am open to the concept but know virtually nothing about it. Need to learn more. Thank you Ives for reminding me of it.

     
    Reply
  8. Enzo Medaglia

    Thanks for the update, never really paid that much attention to NFTs, but will try to keep an open mind

     
    Reply
  9. Yves

    Thank you very much, Hyacinth.

     
    Reply

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Ten years ago, here in Tuscany, we decided to write a recipe book but with so many good cookbooks in the market, we needed to propose a new idea. We had to find a modus operandi close to who we are and what we do as visual artists. The answer was in front of us and painting gave it to us: art and color!

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