Celebrating 9 years with IDS Vancouver

Celebrating 9 Years with IDS Vancouver

9 years ago, I was trying to figure out how I was going to get my artwork out there in the world for everyone to see (well maybe not everyone at that time, but enough to start creating some momentum).

And as the universe often does, an add for the One of a Kind Market as a feature area in the IDS West Show (now known as IDS Vancouver) was looking for 7 emerging artists for their new art section. They were offering a 10 foot wall at a discounted price and something just told me to submit my work.

Not knowing that this decision would change my life, I gracefully accepted when I found out a few weeks later that I had been one of the lucky ones selected for this exciting new feature at the show.

I will never forget that first show. I will never forget how much I prepared every detail (from my artist statements, rack cards, to my prices tags and email signup book, I wanted everything to be perfect). I will never forget that we didn’t have things like “Square” on my phone, so I had to write a receipt and people had to go to a central processing area to pay. I will never forget my first sale (of my largest piece at the time - 48x48 inches) to a fellow co-worker and her husband. And I will also never forget how that show created my first sense of community as it introduced me to 6 other artists (four of which are still in my life today) (Mike Soltis, Jon Shaw, Connie Flavelle and Nathalie Denise)

To my delight, that first show ignited and propelled my career to where it is today and I will forever be grateful to IDS Vancouver for giving me that first chance and now a yearly opportunity to share with the design world what my heart and soul creates.

The opportunities I have had because of this show have been endless. To name a few……

1. I get to showcase my work yearly in front of the city’s top designers

2. I have been a feature image on the IDS Vancouver Website

3. I landed a 10 page feature in Vancouver Home Magazine (page 92-102) which has lead to numerous commissions and serial collectors

4. I have become an internationally known artist and shipped my work all over North America AND

5. Had a dream opportunity of meeting the amazing and talented Designer Amanda (Forrest) Aerin because she showcased my art on an episode of CTV Morning Live (watch video here)

Upon writing this blog post, I did a lot of reflection about the last 9 years and how my artwork, career, vision and mentality has evolved and I can honestly say that IDS Vancouver has played one of the biggest roles that has gotten me where I am today.

The show encompasses beauty and design coupled with innovativeness and ingenuity. But the words I think of most when I think of IDS Vancouver are friendship and support. They continue to to believe in my work and every year my career propels in new and exciting directions.

I would like to take the time to thank the IDS Vancouver team for always believing in me and for welcoming me back each year. There are truly no words to describe how grateful I am.

For those of you who have not been to the show before, and to those who come every year, make sure you get your tickets now because I know for a fact that this year’s show is going to be one to remember.

Get your tickets below and make sure you tell all your friends to join you!

Purchase Tickets

And just in case you want to know what day you should come to the show, the Opening Night Party on Thursday September 26th is always the best! Grab yourself a cocktail and wander around the city’s most beautiful venue. Connect with your favourite creators and get ready to be inspired! (Remember that Friday is not open to the public)

Donna Giraud

2018 Solo Exhibition 'Dare to Connect'

It is with great pleasure, a sore back and overwhelming excitement that my solo exhibition is a month away. Titled, “DARE TO CONNECT,” this whole new series of work will be on display at The Space, An Art Gallery from February 15th to 17th. 

The opening reception (party) is February 15th and your presence is requested!! 

When: February 15th, 2018
Where: 1063 Hamilton Street Vancouver BC
Time: 7-11pm

Show Description

“Authentic connection takes vulnerability, transparency and integrity” and it can be found through a variety of ways. Whether it is through trust, friendship or unconditional support, connection has the power to transform lives. Unfortunately, the myriad of everyday distractions makes it really hard for us to be good at it. 

DARE TO CONNECT is a show that abstractly depicts onto canvas, 12 of my most impactful relationships and how I have discovered the beauty of connection in each of them. My hope is that this body of work encourages you to take a deeper look at how you are connecting and perhaps inspire you to find a little more. Maybe turn off the Netflix a little earlier, stash your phone away when you’re having coffee with a friend or only take one picture of your dinner. May this work open up a dialogue and help us all find the courage it takes to truly connect.

Looking forward to showing all of you the result of many many months of preparation and hard work. I have never been so excited to show my work and I am so grateful that you will all be there to help share in this momentous step in my career.

See you on the 15th!

Download Press Release

The Space, an Art Gallery

Welcome to The Space, An Art Gallery. Located in the heart of Yaletown, The Space is an artist run gallery that is unlike any gallery you have ever been in. What makes it so difference you ask? Well let me respond by asking you if you have ever experienced the following situation? ……….

You are walking down the street and you notice an art gallery and you think to yourself, “wow, that’s some nice art, perhaps I should go in there and have a look?” So you build up the courage to go in and you are a little nervous because you don’t think you know too much about art and that perhaps you shouldn’t be in there in the first place because you don’t really have any intention of buying art. You notice someone behind the counter and they don’t even look up at you or welcome you into their gallery. You want to take some time to look at the art but you find yourself walking around awkwardly and quickly because you don’t feel welcome and you eventually leave with a feeling of  deep inside your gut. 

How many times has this happened to you? I know that I have had that experience first hand on numerous occasions and I vowed that if I ever had my own gallery that things would be different. And boy are you in for a treat when you visit The Space.

Armed with the same mentality and vision, the 9 resident artists in The Space (Donna Giraud, Bill Higginson, Olga Rybalko, Gina Sarro, Jolayne Devente, Ben Lumb, Philippe Sokazo, Dale Dziwenka and Annie Frind) are focussed on making your time at our gallery a unique and enjoyable experience.

As a collective, we feel art should be a thing that brings people together despite your knowledge of art. We believe that you should have a glass of wine or beer in your hand while you are in our space enjoying all of the fine art we have to offer. We encourage you to ask questions and get to know us and our art, because I assure you, we’ve got some great things to say. And lastly, we believe in the importance of bringing the community together through art and that is why we will be doing a ton of events through out the year and we invite you to come to them all.

I am so proud to say that after 16 years of hard work, I have landed the ultimate gig; I get to create art in a beautiful space, surrounded by like-minded and exceptionally talented artists, all the while meeting phenomenal people that want to be a part of our art movement. 

So if you are in the area, please come down to The Space, An Art Gallery at 1063 Hamilton Street, Vancouver BC because we would love to see you.

Donna Giraud