Local Art Collective wears Vancouver artists

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      Alex Gray doesn’t consider himself an artist, but he’s passionate about helping Vancouver visual artists get noticed. The 25-year-old mental health worker and soon-to-be law student recently launched Local Art Collective with a few friends. The clothing company supports Vancouver visual artists by printing their work on T-shirts and tank tops, and splitting sales.

      “Our main goal is to get the work of local artists out into the streets, stuff people would otherwise miss,” Gray, who was born and raised in Vancouver, tells the Georgia Straight by phone. “Fifteen percent of every piece sold goes back to the corresponding artist.”

      With brick and mortar galleries on the decline, many artists are looking for new ways to display their work. Gray says that he launched LAC to offer an alternative.

      “I have a lot of really talented friends who are local artists. I spend a lot of time in their studios and I would find stacks of art that would literally be in the back corners of studio space,” Gray says. “Apparently a lot of this work was difficult to sell. I’m not sure why, but perhaps it wasn’t precisely what galleries were looking for.”

      Other LAC members—two of whom are professional artists—were also keen on bridging the gap between fashion and art.

      “What bonded us was a common interest in local art and wanting to change the status quo when it comes to the clothing industry,” Gray says.

      LAC pieces (available at www.localartcollective.com/), which is priced between $30 and $35, is printed on American Apparel clothing. Gray says that the Los Angeles-based company’s sweatshop-free mandate is what appealed to the group.

      On Saturday (July 20), American Apparel and LAC will co-host an event at the South Granville store (3070 Granville Street) from 7 to 10 p.m. Attendees will have a chance to purchase LAC clothing and view artwork by Vancouver artists Ryan Milbourne, David Ullock, and Tylor McMillan.

      Gray says that eventually, he’d like to open a pop-up shop and print pieces by artists across Canada. For now, Vancouver-based artists are encouraged to submit their work at submissions@localartcollective.com.

      You can follow Michelle da Silva on Twitter at twitter.com/michdas.

      Comments

      1 Comments

      Chad

      Jul 18, 2013 at 2:27pm

      good to see young folk promoting local art!