Anything Goes show puts the bid on local artists

Anything Goes 2025, the latest Revelstoke Visual Arts Society (RVAS) membership show, is readying for two weeks of competitive bidding on some of the latest local artwork. With the gallery show opening Thursday, Feb. 20 at the Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre (RVAC) and running until final bidding night Thursday, March 6, guests will get a chance to peruse submitted artwork in-person and online. Pieces will be open for bidding with RVAS and artists splitting winning bids.

“It’s a really cool spectrum of the art in Revelstoke,” Taylor Sandell, RVAC programming director told Revelstoke Mountaineer. With the restriction that all pieces must be 12 inches by 12 inches, potters, sculptures, painters and photographers will get a chance to showcase their work in a hung gallery show. RVAS’ members range from new to well established artists creating pieces for competitive prices.

“This might be your first show and your work is hanging beside Haley Stewart or Sabrina Curtis. And that can be a really cool and really weird feeling for newer artists.”

Anything Goes 2025 is one of the key fundraising events for RVAS to continue offering programming, resources for local artists, gallery spaces and competitive gallery payouts to showcased artists. While current industry rates mean an artist showing their work will split ticket and sales with the gallery 50/50, RVAS only takes a 20 per cent commission on most shows. Due to the fundraising nature of the Anything Goes show, commissions work a little differently. When they submit their work, artists will choose to give RVAS anywhere from 50 per cent to 100 per cent.

“These fundraisers are important because they provide flexible funds, which are hard to get for a non-profit,” Sandell explained.

The annual show has long-time supporters who have built specific collections around the 12 inch by 12 inch pieces won at the auction. Each year there are some pieces that build extra buzz and RVAS cashes in on the excitement by hosting an evening event during the last couple hours of bidding to let everyone in on some live-bidding action. Similar to other gallery opening events, Anything Goes 2025’s closing event will include live music, drink options and a chance to come dressed in your finest.

“You watch the crowds as the bidding wraps up and winners are announced and it’s a little entertaining to see the reactions of folks who won and folks who maybe are a little bummed they didn’t get the piece they were bidding on.”

Bidding will also take place online, and winning pieces can be shipped from outside of Revelstoke to winning bids. Still, Sandell encourages anyone able to view the pieces in person leading up to closing day.

“Seeing them lit in our gallery, seeing them hung in person, it really shows the talent our artists have.”

If artists have missed out on the Anything Goes 2025 show, RVAS’ next member show will open Thursday, June 19 with the theme of “Laughter is the Best Medicine.” RVAS memberships are $25 annually per member and $40 annually for a family of two adults and two youth under 16. Membership includes opportunities to showcase work, special events and advanced notice of upcoming classes.