Written by Frank Juarez
In 2006, I visited one of my best friends in Virginia. A common interest of ours is visiting art galleries and art museums. On a sunny afternoon, we found themselves in downtown Richmond. I stumbled upon a visitor’s guide, which featured art galleries, artists, restaurants, boutiques, and so on. During this time, I was co-owner of a contemporary art gallery, Barrow + Juarez, in the Third Ward in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. What I liked about this particular guide was that as a visitor I had some guidance as to where to go to see art. In some way, I felt connected.
Since my move to Sheboygan in 2004, I have witnessed the local art scene grow. Art communities of all sizes comprised of art groups, traditional and non-traditional gallery exhibition spaces, artist studios, and businesses that support the visual arts were thriving.
In 2013 I decided to launch my very own art publication called Artdose Art Guide as a project though my gallery, Frank Juarez Gallery, as a way to expose, educate and engage people about the visual arts in the North East and South East Wisconsin. This art guide developed into a quarterly art publication, which featured exhibitions, events, screenings, workshops, and so on that took place at galleries, art groups, institutions, arts centers, art related-businesses, and artist studios.
Below is our first issue of Artdose.
At the end of the first quarter (2018), Artdose Art Guide took a left turn and downsized to a French-fold publication. This decision was based on the data collected, which communicated a slow decline in advertising. A printed publication is an expensive project to maintain due to printing costs, shipping, sales, interest, etc. But I felt deep down that it was too soon to ‘throw in the towel’ and the need to reinvent Artdose was a necessity. This reinvention matured into an art magazine, which was piloted in Vol XXVII. This brought more content, contributing writers, ongoing outreach, and more expenses.
Below is our VOL XXVII cover featuring the work of Jesse Bell.
My vision, passion, and commitment has paved the road for Artdose Magazine to continue moving forward one issue at a time. Artdose is a labor of love. The ride thus far has been up and down. What I have found to be successful is to be open to collaboration bringing others into the conversation. In no way, shape, or form is Artdose perfect and most likely will never be. However, as we move forward we embrace change and do what we can to make each issue better and relevant to the ever-changing Wisconsin Art landscape.
There are a lot of publications in Wisconsin that touch upon the visual arts, but there is only one that is committed to providing its readership with a well-rounded introduction to artists, art-related businesses, curators, and exhibitions spaces living and working in Wisconsin. The people is what drives creative economies, vision, and impact on the community through their art, services, programming, etc.
Artdose Magazine goes well beyond just print, It participates in community art initiatives, sponsorship, partnership, and sharing the platform to educate, advocate, and engage the broad [art] community.
In January 2021, it will enter its 8th season.
