Emma Le Strange

As an emerging artist, you always dream of having a solo exhibition. For me that came true last year with the exhibition "Within" at the Bleeding Heart Gallery, Brisbane. You can view the entire catalog at http://emmalestrangeart.com. This was a big triumph in my life. I had over come a battle with chronic illness and drew on this to reflect and let go through the artwork. The exhibition was twenty pieces of conte crayon drawings on paper. I delved into creating very emotive pieces by exploring the human form. The resulting imagery was highly contrasted, monochromatic, realistic drawings. "Within" was a success with six pieces being sold.

I happened to enter a drawing prize through a gallery in Canberra called M16 Artspace. The artwork "It may end" was selected as a finalist piece. As it happened, M16 Artspace encouraged me to submit a proposal for an exhibition. At the time I was thrilled and daunted by the prospect. Then fate came along and gave me the nudge that I needed. My Aunty shared with me a Reith Lecture done by the artist Grayson Perry. An answer to an audience question stuck in my head. His message was, "what you have got to do is take every opportunity...if somebody offers you a little exhibition...you take it you take it you take it because you never know". I then also discovered that the gallery was around the corner from my mother's childhood home. Yes, fate had answered my doubts and "Never Without" was born.

I have accepted a three week exhibition with M16 Artspace running from the 19th of June to the 6th of July, 2014. "Never Without" is a continuation of "Within". I will be exhibiting the unsold pieces from "Within" and incorporating at least six new ones. Most of the hard yakka has already been done and I am excited that my art work will continue to be exhibited. However, the realisation of transporting my artwork began to set in. It is very fragile. I do not use a fixative because it destroys my drawings. Also, at this time, the pieces will not be framed. Thus I need to utilize a trustworthy transportation company to avoid damaging my precious cargo.

I have looked into transportation costs and was a little taken aback.
Now, this is where you come in. I need crowd funding to help get my artwork safely to Canberra from Brisbane and back again. I also would like to transport myself. This is my first interstate exhibition and I would just love to be there to install it as well as attend my opening night. This venture is the next step in a long and hopefully fruitful career.

I have chosen fitting rewards for your help. One of the rewards includes the piece shown in the pozible campaign video. Also, you will be given the opportunity to select from a limited number of lino prints and own your very own piece of Emma Le Strange art! Supporting "Never Without" will cement this step in my history and hopefully, the history of drawings in Australia. Your donations will be greatly appreciated!

Here is my overall budget. I have highlighted the items that will be funded by this campaign.

Materials:
Conte Crayons -----------------$30
Paper -----------------------------$0 (I already own a ridiculously large roll of the stuff)
Pastel Gesso --------------------$0 (I already own)

Hanging
Gallery Hire ---------------------$600
Mat borders & backing --------$ payment to be confirmed (fingers crossed that a commission would be ok)
Hanging Materials --------------$100

Transportation and Materials
*Artwork Transportation ------$1590 (Return via Artwork Transport)
*Airfares ---------------------------$258 (Return via Virgin)
*Accommodation ---------------$448 (4 nights at Canberra Short Term & Holiday Accommodation)
*Taxi Fares ------------------------$100 (Airport transfers)
Food ---------------------------------$100 (Ones gotta eat)

Total ---------------------------------$3226 (I hope I calculated that right!)

The only risk I have is not securing the funding to get my art to Canberra. I will thus gain part time work to cover these costs should the pozible campaign be unsuccessful. However, I would much rather make art to pass onto you, my crowd funding sponsers.