You Don't Have to Figure Out the Art World Alone

The art world doesn't have to feel like an impossible maze you're navigating by yourself.

I'm Kristine Schomaker—artist, curator, connector and advocate. For over a decade, I've been planting seeds with artists who refuse to let their work remain invisible.

Here's what I know to be true: community and education are as essential as your paintbrush.

We're Building Something Different

Shoebox Arts isn't just another art service. We're a movement where artists support each other, share resources, and refuse to accept that making art

means struggling alone.

We believe your talent deserves more than hope and hustle. It deserves strategy, community, and the kind of support that transforms artistic passion into sustainable career success.

Kristine Schomaker leading an Artist Meet-up at ArtbarLA

How We Support Artists

Start Free
Try Our Community Programs

Community Conversations - Every Tuesday, 11am PST.
Open forum for real talk about submissions, social media, pricing,
and art world challenges
Studio Visit Exchange - Get matched
with artists or art professionals for meaningful studio exchanges
Call and Response - Global artistic collaborations connecting artists
across 6 continents

Ready to try?

Explore our Free Programs

Join Our Community

Artist Support Membership

Weekly artist development sessions, monthly critiques and speakers with industry professionals, curated opportunities, and a private community of committed artists. Starting at $75/month.

What you get: Office hours, co-working, accountability, art business masterclasses, exhibition opportunities and direct access to Kristine as your mentor.

Ready to get Started?

Join our Membership

Kristine Schomaker and friend with a sculpture

Individual
One-on-One Services

Consultations ($75-$375) - Get unstuck, clarify goals, navigate career transitions
Exhibition PR ($150-$4,650) - Transform your show from secret to must-see event
Curation Services ($3,000) - Professional exhibition development and installation

Need focused help?

Individual support

Why Artists Choose Shoebox Arts

"From the moment I partnered with Kristine, I had the feeling that she truly cared about me and helping me grow my art career. Through media outreach, press releases, and curated events, my artwork reached audiences far beyond what I could have achieved independently." — Erika Lizée, Artist

Our impact:
500+ artists supported • 20+ collaboration rounds • 11+ years building community

Kristine Schomaker and other artists on a couch sitting around an art studio

Kristine Schomaker and friends standing in front of artworks

Ready to Get Started?

New to Shoebox? Start with our free Community Conversations every Tuesday

at 11am PST

Ready for community? Join our

Artist Support Membership for comprehensive development

Need immediate help? Book a

one-on-one consultation

Questions? Email Kristine at shoeboxartsla@gmail.com

Shoebox strives to provide artists with equitable access to opportunities

regardless of race, ethnicity, disability,

religion, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, citizenship or financial status.

Two days until the doors open on the most delicious gallery you've ever walked into.

No actual desserts (sorry). But 80+ artworks that capture every feeling you've ever had about cake—the anticipation, the guilt, the pure pleasure of that first bite.

"Let Me Eat Cake, Please" opens this weekend during the Brewery Artwalk, October 25-26.

52 artists turned their relationships with sweetness into art. We hung every single piece, salon-style, creating this immersive space where indulgence becomes something you can live with.

Shoebox at the Brewery
660 South Avenue 21 #3
Los Angeles, CA 90031

Two days. Then you get to see what we've been building.

Open during Artwalk hours 11-6pm pst

Everything's for sale. Take home your favorite treat—the kind that lasts.
50% to artist, 40% to Shoebox Arts, 10% benefits National Alliance for Eating Disorders.

Come hungry for art.

#breweryartwalk #whereartlives #breweryartlife #artwalk #thingstodoinla #letmeeatcakeplease

Credit to @rotroz

@kristineschomaker and I had the best time discussing artists’ relationship with AI and tech, organizations and people we love and admire in the LA art scene, and some best practices to help artists feel less overwhelmed (hint: there might be some nerding out about spreadsheets and to-do list).

Tune in Monday for our full conversation on #Bytesize. Here’s a snippet of Kristine talking about changing how we write art histories >>> rotroz.substack.com #linkinbio

I visited Aleka, Miranda and Sophia's exhibition at the Los Angeles Makery. 3 artist generations.

It was beautiful to see the through lines and the influence and inspiration - even if unconsciously - through all of their work. A timeline. Conversations happening between all of the pieces.

Look at these installations - fabric and paper cascading from the ceiling, suspended forms dripping color. Abstract expressionist paintings next to dimensional collage work covered in texture and pattern. Prints arranged in grids showing the evolution of ideas. A black sculptural torso decorated with tassels and embroidered symbols. Trees made from felt and buttons and beads. Faces appearing in unexpected materials.
You can see where ideas pass through generations. The layering technique. The use of vibrant color against unexpected backgrounds. How one person works in paint and another translates that energy into fiber and found objects. The same impulse to build up surface, to combine materials, to let things drip and hang and transform.

Three generations of women artists making work in the same physical space (that raw concrete and exposed ceiling!). Their individual voices clear and distinct, but also - this unmistakable connection. Like watching creativity move through a family line, changing and staying constant at the same time.

It was really special and important. I'm so glad I was able to see it.

#losangelesmakery #womenartists #artistfamily #threegenerations

I saw the goddess exhibition at the Los Angeles Makery. And it was equally as intense and powerful in craftsmanship and variety and storytelling.

So many different iterations of what a goddess is and the importance of goddess in our society and in past and even future societies and cultures. The artists involved really dug deep to share their feelings and their thoughts.

And the idea of the goddess as subversive in our culture today - with everything going on - is important.

The range. From playful pop art sculptures to these deeply symbolic narrative paintings. From textile work to dimensional assemblage. Each artist asking: what does sacred feminine mean right now? What does power look like? Protection? Transformation?

I'm still thinking about that suspended torso. The way it hangs there - vulnerable and powerful at once.

#goddessart #goddessexhibition #losangelesmakery #LittleTokyo

I made it to the Los Angeles Makery before The Assemblage Show closes this weekend!!

I really wanted to see this show and wasn't sure if I'd make it, so walking in felt like this relief and then immediate sensory overload (in the best way).

There's so much nostalgia happening - found objects telling these complete stories. Photos layered with mirrors, wood, entire houses recreated in miniature. Artists making abstractions out of materials that used to be something else entirely.

The ingenuity of it. How do you even think to combine these specific objects? How do you see a story in discarded pieces?

That deep blue sculptural piece with rulers, dominoes, clocks, and toy figures arranged in tiny compartments. A reel-to-reel tape player transformed into wall art with cassette tapes lined up like a music collection frozen in time. Houses built from weathered wood and old gears, windows looking into photographs of other spaces. A printer's tray turned memory box, each compartment holding miniature toys and figures. And this massive wall piece - just layers and layers of torn photographs creating this dense, almost archaeological surface.

You walk in and you're just... overwhelmed. By imagination. By craftsmanship. By the sheer volume of ideas happening on the walls.

If you're in LA and can get there before it closes - highly recommend. The show runs through this weekend.

#AssemblageArt #theassemblageshow #losangelesmakery #LittleTokyo

“And they were made to hold flowers, because in my head, I was like, these look like They would be part of an altar. So, may as well make them part of an altar.”

We are so excited to feature our next artist Rockee Armendariz ( @heyrockeedraws ) in our Let Me Eat Cake, Please Artist Spotlight series!🎂🍓

Three days until you can shop for art like you're choosing from a pastry case.

Except instead of éclairs and tarts, it's 80+ paintings, photographs, and sculptures. Each one capturing that specific moment when you decide to say yes to something sweet.

"Let Me Eat Cake, Please" opens this weekend during the Brewery Artwalk, October 25-26.

52 artists. Every wall filled. Baroque abundance meets contemporary craving.
Shoebox at the Brewery

660 South Avenue 21 #3
Los Angeles, CA 90031

The doors open in three days. Come ready to treat yourself.

Open during Artwalk hours 11-6pm pst

Everything's for sale. Take home your favorite treat—the kind that lasts.
50% to artist, 40% to Shoebox Arts, 10% benefits National Alliance for Eating Disorders.

Come hungry for art.

#breweryartwalk #whereartlives #breweryartlife #artwalk #thingstodoinla #letmeeatcakeplease

I talked to Shannon Rae Fincke from the Middle Room Gallery about her Dinner Party exhibition and I can't stop thinking about it.

She invited 21 artists who'd shown at her gallery before (reunion artists) and asked each one to bring a guest. An artist they wanted to exhibit with. Someone they respected. Someone they'd want to sit next to at dinner.

The artists chose each other.

44 artists. 22 pairs. An actual sit-down dinner in the gallery.

Shannon runs the kind of space I'm always drawn to - focused on mid-career women artists (not emerging, not established, that overlooked space in between), creating genuinely welcoming experiences, understanding both sides because she's a working artist too.

When she described the dinner party, she said "people's hearts were really full and overflowing." That's what happens when artists come together to truly support each other, to make room for each other, to elevate each other.

That's the antidote to why people don't like the art world.

New on Substack - link in bio
https://shoeboxarts.substack.com/p/candid-conversation-with-shannon

Support Shoebox through Substack so we can keep bringing you exciting conversations, professional development material, and candid talk about being an artist in the world today.

#MidCareerArtist #WomenArtists #ArtCommunity #LAart #AtwaterVillage #ArtistsSupportingArtists #ContemporaryArt #ArtWorld #StudioLife #ArtistLife #FemaleArtists #LAartist #ArtGallery #ShoeboxArts #ArtConversations

@shannonraefincke @themiddleroomgallery

“They’re like visual affirmations... I’m a visual person. I need to see something visual that I can wake up and have coffee... and I can live into that, who I’m becoming”…

We are so excited to kick off our Let Me Eat Cake, Please Artist Spotlight series with @karen_jones_art 🎂! For the full interview check out the YouTube video that will be linked in our story, see you there!

Four days until the sweetest shop in LA opens.

Floor to ceiling indulgence. 80+ pieces from 52 artists who know that cake isn't just cake—it's memory, comfort, rebellion, joy.

"Let Me Eat Cake, Please" opens to the public during the Brewery Artwalk, October 25-26.

Salon-style. Packed walls. The kind of visual feast where every corner reveals another story about what we crave and why.

Shoebox at the Brewery
660 South Avenue 21 #3
Los Angeles, CA 90031

Mark your calendar. This weekend only.

Open during Artwalk hours 11-6pm pst

Everything's for sale. Take home your favorite treat—the kind that lasts.
50% to artist, 40% to Shoebox Arts, 10% benefits National Alliance for Eating Disorders.

Come hungry for art.

#breweryartwalk #whereartlives #breweryartlife #artwalk #thingstodoinla #letmeeatcakeplease

This weekend: a new kind of dessert shop opens its doors.

80+ confections you can't eat but might want to take home anyway.

Paintings, photographs, sculptures—each one a love letter to cake, pie, cookies, all the sweet things that comfort us. From 52 makers who understand that dessert is never just dessert.

"Let Me Eat Cake, Please" opens to the public for the Brewery Artwalk, October 25-26.

Think salon-style abundance. Walls covered floor to ceiling. Every piece whispering stories about indulgence, satisfaction, the complicated pleasure of saying yes to sweetness.

Shoebox at the Brewery
660 South Avenue 21 #3
Los Angeles, CA 90031

Open during Artwalk hours 11-6pm pst

Everything's for sale. Take home your favorite treat—the kind that lasts.
50% to artist, 40% to Shoebox Arts, 10% benefits National Alliance for Eating Disorders.

Come hungry for art.

#breweryartwalk #whereartlives #breweryartlife #artwalk #thingstodoinla #letmeeatcakeplease

New Candid Conversation up on Substack!

Talked with Mike McLain about his People's Archive of Real Feels in Interesting Times - a social practice project where people write what it actually feels like to live through these times on quilt squares.

Mike paints over their words, then sews the squares together into quilts. Community, comfort, documentation. All of it.

The responses have been surprising - words like "resilient" and "hopeful" coming up alongside the anger and fear. Very nuanced. Very real.

This is the work we need right now. Mike had never done social practice before this, but it pulled him out of a dark place. It's bringing people together when we need that most.

He's continuing the project at Highway 62 Art Tour through October and taking it to Claremont on November 1st.

Link in bio to read the full conversation and listen to the audio
https://shoeboxarts.substack.com/

#candidconversation #artconversation #socialpracticeart #artcommunity #mikejmclain #shoeboxarts #highway62arttours

Credit to @dellisfrank_theartist

The show is this weekend! Saturday and Sunday. I’ll be there Sunday. Come on through!

The crit groups are what sell most artists. Getting real feedback every month from people who understand what you're trying to do. Who see where the work is going before you do sometimes.

But then you also get a solo show at Shoebox at the Brewery.

A year membership. Your own exhibition space. Room to figure out what the work is becoming. Time to experiment and fail and try again with people who get it.

The monthly crits alone are worth the investment - that consistent feedback loop changes how you see your practice. But knowing you have a show coming? That deadline, that space waiting for you, that opportunity to see your work installed and breathing in a real gallery?

It shifts something. The way you work. The questions you ask. What you're willing to try.

Year membership at Shoebox. Monthly community. Your own show.

More info at shoeboxarts.com or link in bio.

Photo of Dama's residency/solo exhibition @amandamacielantunes

#ShoeboxArts #ArtistMembership #SoloExhibition #TheBrewery #ArtCommunity #LAartist #ArtistSupport #ContemporaryArt #ArtStudio #CritGroup #ArtistLife #EmergingArtist #ArtCollective #StudioPractice #LosAngelesArt #ArtistResources #CreativeCommunity #ArtistsOfInstagram

Artists notice everything.

Mark Indig saw light through a lattice and captured this. Pattern repeating itself in shadow. That threshold between inside and outside. (I adore this work!)

I wrote about why I love artists - their unique way of seeing, the way they suffer for it and do it anyway, and why I bring speakers like Kim Abeles to my community every month to share the real truth about choosing this life.

https://shoeboxarts.substack.com/p/why-i-love-artists-and-why-you-should
or link in bio to substack

Featured Artwork Courtesy Mark Indig

#artisteye #artistcommunity #artmatter

Artists, I need to tell you something.

The doors don't open until 1:45.

I sent that email before my recent exhibition and felt SO guilty about it. I needed to shower. The plumber was coming. I live where the show is. But mostly? I was already exhausted just thinking about being "on" for hours.

That one boundary changed everything.

This week I'm writing about why we don't set boundaries, what they actually look like for artists, and why taking care of yourself isn't selfish—it's sustainable.

From saying no to concrete floors that hurt your body, to pricing your work on your own terms, to just being honest about what you can and can't do. Real talk from our community conversation.

New on Substack: "The Doors Don't Open Until 1:45"

https://shoeboxarts.substack.com/p/the-doors-dont-open-until-145
or link in bio to Substack

If this kind of honest conversation about the realities of making and showing art resonates with you, consider supporting my Substack. Your support helps me keep these community conversations going and creates space for the kind of real talk we all need.

#artistboundaries #takecarofyourself #artistcommunity #sustainableart #substack

Credit to @matterstudiogallery

@amgart Opens her #solo #exhibition titled PERSONAL JOURNEYS MATTER October 26, 2025, 4-8pm #paintings #ceramic #sculpture #art #matters #umatter #journeys #lifeisajourney

Ted Meyer just stopped by to drop off a couple pieces for me to take to Golden West College. While he was here, he grabbed some banners donated from another artist to deliver out to Palm Springs for Shelley Heffler's art practice.
Anna Stump you're in on this too lol

This is what LA Art Rideshare is actually for!

We have this private Facebook group where artists help each other move work around - to exhibitions, to storage, to other artists who need materials. It just keeps circulating. Someone's driving to Palm Springs anyway, someone else needs to get work to Long Beach, another person has supplies they're not using that someone else desperately needs.

It all goes around and around and around.
The group exists because we're all driving all over this massive sprawling city anyway. Might as well help each other while we're at it.

If you're an LA artist and want in, message me for a link to the FB group. It's simple: post where you're going, post what you need moved, see who's headed that direction. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't, but when it does?

So much better than trying to coordinate shipping or making special trips across town.

#artcommunity #LAartRideshare #ShoeboxArts #ArtMentorship #artistshelpingartists

Credit to @teresabernadetteart

Indulged in the decadence of "Let Me Eat Cake, Please!" at @shoeboxarts.la, where art mimicked life mimicked art.

RED DOTS ARE Happening
🔴🔴🔴🔴

We sold several pieces at the opening and I'm so happy to see these artworks finding homes where they'll be loved.

Swipe through to see what's already claimed - these artists deserve all the celebration for creating work that resonates deeply enough that people want to live with it.

But here's the thing: we have 80+ pieces in this show and most are still available. You can browse and purchase online at shoeboxarts.com/category/all-products or come see everything in person during Brewery Artwalk October 25-26, 11am-6pm.

Fair warning though - if you see something you love, don't wait too long. We've got red dots ready to go and once a piece sells, it's gone.

Supporting artists directly means they can keep making the work that moves you. Every purchase matters.

#LetMeEatCakePlease #SupportYourLocalArtists #RedDots #ArtSales #BreweryArtwalk #ShoeboxArts #BuyArt #StillAvailable

Credit to @searaujoart

#altadenaartist #wip #paintingprocess #textureandpattern #abstraction #observednature

THANK YOU

To everyone who showed up for "Let Me Eat Cake, Please!" yesterday - there wasn't a frown in the room. Joy, laughter, sweetness, community. Beautiful weather and so much sugar.

I had a conversation at the reception that keeps circling back. We were talking about my conflicting thoughts around food. How I'm afraid of it and use it for comfort. How it gives me energy and can feel addictive. How food shows up at celebrations, brings people together, creates joy through sharing.

Here's what I keep thinking about: we can hold conflicting truths at the same time. Nothing is black and white. Food can heal and food can hurt. Food can bring joy and food can bring sadness. It's comfort and it's complicated and it's cultural and it's personal and it's all of those things simultaneously.

This show exists in that nuanced space. The artworks celebrate abundance while acknowledging complexity. They're beautiful and they're honest about the messy territory where pleasure meets struggle.

The exhibition runs through October 26 and is open during Brewery Artwalk October 25-26, 11am-6pm. Come see what happens when art makes space for holding multiple truths about something as fundamental as eating.

Work is available through our online store at shoeboxarts.com/category/all-products

#LetMeEatCakePlease #OpeningReception #Nuance #ComplexRelationships #FoodAndHealing #CommunityAndCelebration #ShoeboxArts #BreweryArtwalk
#selfieswithfriends

TODAY'S THE DAY

"Let Me Eat Cake, Please!" opens at Shoebox this afternoon 2-4pm.

Dessert potluck so bring something sweet to share. We've got 80+ food artworks covering every wall and I cannot wait to see everyone's reactions when they walk in and realize how much delicious abundance we crammed into this space.

After you've had your fill of art and sugar at Shoebox, head over to Los Angeles Makery to check out three more fantastic exhibitions. They're open 1-6pm today and several artists are showing at both venues.

Perfect Sunday afternoon plan: Art, desserts, community, more art.

Opening Reception: TODAY 2-4pm
Shoebox, 660 S Avenue 21 #3

Then continue to: Los Angeles Makery
makery.la

See you in a few hours. Let's celebrate.

#LetMeEatCakePlease #OpeningDay #TodayAt2pm #DessertPotluck #BreweryArtComplex #LosMakery #ShoeboxArts #SundayAtTheBrewery

Victoria Reynolds and Jeffrey Vallance at
Let Me Eat Cake, Please!
Shoebox

OPENING RECEPTION: SUNDAY
OCTOBER 5, 2025, 2-4PM

ON VIEW DURING
BREWERY ARTWALK:
OCTOBER25-26, 11AM-6PM

Shoebox Arts
660 S. Avenue 21, #3,
Los Angeles, CA 90031

off N. Main Street in LA
at the Brewery Artists Complex

Jeffrey Vallance
Basket of Madness, 2025
Acrylic and found objects
Dimensions variable

Victoria Reynolds
Fenestra Rosa, 2025
Oil on panel with recessed area
12 x 12 x 1.5 inches

Credit to @gwcartgallery

Please join us for Self/not Selfie, a group show of self portraits (but no selfies!) at Golden West College Art Gallery, curated by Tony Pinto.

The difference between a self-portrait and a selfie is artistic intent. A self-portrait is a more formal, artistic representation, conveying deeper meaning or emotion, and can be any medium, including drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, and video.

Self/not Selfie runs October 22 to November 14, 2025. Gallery hours are Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, 10 am to 2 pm. Opening reception is Thursday, October 23, 4-6 pm. Free and open to the community.
.
.
#selfie #selfportrait #ocart

Cake!

Sunday Oct 5 2-4pm

@shoeboxarts.la at the Brewery
660 south avenue 21#3 LA CA 90031

Link in bio to store
10% goes to @alliancefored

#LetMeEatCakePlease #cakeartshow #contemporaryart #losangelesart #charityartshow

THIS SUNDAY!

"Let Me Eat Cake, Please!" opens at Shoebox 2-4pm with a dessert potluck.

Here's the perfect art plan for Sunday: Start at Shoebox at the Brewery, bring something sweet to share, feast your eyes on 98+ food artworks covering every wall, then head over to Los Angeles Makery in Little Tokyo for three more fantastic shows.

The Makery extended their hours to 1-6pm specifically because several artists are showing at both venues. So you can hit both spots and see even more incredible work.

Can't make Sunday? You can purchase work from "Let Me Eat Cake, Please!" ahead of time through our online store at shoeboxarts.com/category/all-products

Get sugared up with us, then keep the party going at the Makery.

Opening Reception: Sunday October 5, 2-4pm
Shoebox, 660 S Avenue 21 #3

Then head to: Los Angeles Makery
makery.la

Multiple artists, multiple venues, one sweet Sunday at the Brewery. See you there.
"Let me Eat Cake, Please!" will also be on view during the upcoming Brewery Artwalk October 25-26 11-6pm.

#LetMeEatCakePlease #OpeningReception #BreweryArtComplex #LosMakery #DessertPotluck #ShoeboxArts #SundayAtTheBrewery #MultipleShows

Sneak peak...
Still need to level everything and put labels then ready to go!

Link to store in bio!

5 DAYS TO GO

Until our opening reception for "Let Me Eat Cake, Please!" and I keep getting more excited about these artworks heading to the walls.

Swipe through this latest batch - each piece tells a different story about sweetness, memory, and the role food plays in our lives. Some celebrate pure indulgence, others explore comfort and nostalgia, all of them understand that food is never just about hunger.

These artists capture something essential about how we connect with treats - the anticipation, the pleasure, the guilt, the joy, the cultural meaning wrapped up in every bite. When you see them salon-style covering our walls, the effect is overwhelming in the best way.

Opening Reception: October 5, 2-4pm at Shoebox
Dessert potluck - bring something sweet to share

Then the full exhibition runs through Brewery Artwalk October 25-26 when thousands will discover this delicious abundance.

The countdown continues and the anticipation builds. Come feast your eyes with us.

#LetMeEatCakePlease #5DaysToGo #FoodArt #BreweryArtwalk #LAart #OpeningReception #DessertPotluck #ShoeboxArts #CountdownBegins #SweetAnticipation

Just wrapped a couple hours of install prep with my interns and I am EXHAUSTED. We didn't even touch the surface of hanging yet, but wow—working with Christina, Jordan, and Rose was amazing.

Christina was a master at Tetrising all the boxes in the closet (seriously, that spatial awareness 🙌), Rose was incredible at unpacking and organizing all the work, and Jordan has such a great eye for balance. His idea to hang the cake sign over the door?? Genius.

More work to do tomorrow, but rest is important. Can't install 80+ artworks on fumes.

"Let Me Eat Cake, Please" opens THIS SUNDAY, October 5th with a dessert potluck reception at Shoebox. 52 artists exploring our complicated relationship with food. You're not going to want to miss this one.

Opening reception: Sunday, October 5th 2-4pm Shoebox 660 South Avenue 21 #3 LA CA 90031

Bring a dessert to share!

The show will also be up during the Brewery Artwalk October 25-26 11-6pm

#LetMeEatCakePlease #ShoeboxArts #ArtOpening #SalonStyleHang #ArtInstallation #LAart #BreweryArtwalk

📦 New post: The Anatomy of an Art Exhibition

Ever wonder what it actually takes to put together a group show? I'm breaking down the whole process—from initial concept to cleanup—using "Let Me Eat Cake, Please" as a real-time case study.

This one's also a guide for my interns as we install 80+ artworks from 52 artists tomorrow. The good stuff: jurying, PR strategy, salon-style hanging, and why I schedule drop-offs within a week of opening (spoiler: storage space and protecting the work).

https://shoeboxarts.substack.com/p/the-anatomy-of-an-art-exhibition
Read the full post on Substack ⬆️
or link in Shoebox bio to Substack

#ArtCurating #ExhibitionDesign #ArtistSupport #BehindTheScenes #ShoeboxArts

So great to see @jeffreyvallancestudios and @victoria_reynoldsss who are both part of Let Me Eat Cake, Please! Opening on October 5 2-4pm with a dessert potluck!!

@aazamirilianstudio has been an artist in residence here at Shoebox for 3 months!

It's been so lovely having her work here. She has really worked it with several Studio visits and two Open Studios.
That's how you get future exhibitions.

It will be sad to see her enlightened work leave today!

VISUAL APPETIZERS

Ten more delectable pieces heading to the walls at Shoebox for "Let Me Eat Cake, Please!" - each one a masterpiece of culinary inspiration.

These artists capture everything we love about food: the anticipation before the first bite, the comfort of familiar flavors, the celebration of special occasions, and the pure joy of indulgence. Their work transforms everyday treats into extraordinary art that speaks to our deepest connections with nourishment and pleasure.

From intimate studies of chocolate drips to explosive celebrations of birthday cake magic, each piece tells a story about memory, culture, and the role food plays in our lives.

When you walk into our salon-style installation October 5th, you'll be surrounded by 50 works creating an environment where art and appetite collide in the most beautiful way.

Opening Reception: October 5, 2-4pm
Dessert potluck - because art and food belong together

Brewery Artwalk: October 25-26, 11am-6pm
The perfect weekend to discover new favorites

This exhibition proves that the best art makes you hungry for more - in every sense.
https://www.facebook.com/events/676708912108894

#LetMeEatCakePlease #FoodArt #VisualAppetizers #BreweryArtwalk #LAart #ArtAndAppetite #CulinaryInspiration #ShoeboxArts #ArtMakesYouHungry #FoodMemories

Open studio season is happening and I've been collecting notes on what actually works when you throw your doors open to strangers.

Whether you're thinking about the Brewery Artwalk here in LA, your local open studio tour, or planning your own solo studio event, I wrote down everything—the stuff that saves you sales, the mistakes I keep seeing artists make, why you need way more directional signs than feels reasonable (trust me on this one), and how to not spend the whole weekend talking to your friends while potential collectors wander around unattended.

Whether this is your first open studio or you've done ten of them, there might be something useful in here. It's interesting how different the energy is between big community events versus intimate solo studios, and how to read each type of crowd.

https://shoeboxarts.substack.com/p/open-studio-season
or link in bio to Substack

🎨 Your "studio" doesn't need four walls to be worth visiting

Kitchen table? Bedroom corner? Shared workspace? Website portfolio? ALL valid.

Your Studio Visit Exchange isn't about having the perfect space—it's about sharing your creative process, your story, and your work with someone who gets it.

What actually matters:
✨ Your passion for what you create
✨ Your willingness to connect authentically
✨ Your unique perspective and process
✨ Your courage to share your creative journey

We've had incredible exchanges where artists showed:
→ Work-in-progress on their dining room table
→ Digital portfolios from their laptop in a coffee shop
→ Sketchbooks filled with ideas from their commute
→ Virtual tours of corner studios in studio apartments

The magic isn't in the space—it's in the connection.

Whether you're working from a converted garage or a website gallery, your creative practice deserves to be seen, discussed, and celebrated.

Ready to connect with another artist or art professional who values authenticity over aesthetics?

Your story matters. Your space is enough. You are ready.

Link in bio to apply for FREE Studio Visit Exchange 💛
https://www.shoeboxarts.com/freeprograms-1

#StudioVisitExchange #AuthenticArt #CreativeSpaces #ArtCommunity #YourStoryMatters #FreePrograms #ShoeboxArts

SWEET TEMPTATIONS

Ten tantalizing tastes from "Let Me Eat Cake, Please!" - swipe through this visual buffet heading to Shoebox.

These artists transform sugar, spice, and everything nice into gallery-worthy masterpieces. From photorealistic donuts glazed to perfection to painterly interpretations of birthday cake nostalgia, each piece proves that food art feeds both the eyes and the soul.

When we open October 5th, these works will join 40 others in our signature salon-style installation - every wall surface covered in delicious abundance that makes visitors feel like they've stepped inside a confectionery wonderland.

This is art that celebrates pleasure without apology, comfort without judgment, and sweetness as a form of resistance against a culture that tells us we can't have nice things.

Opening Reception: October 5, 2-4pm
Dessert potluck - bring your favorite treat

Brewery Artwalk: October 25-26, 11am-6pm

Come hungry for art that satisfies on every level.
https://www.facebook.com/events/676708912108894

#LetMeEatCakePlease #FoodArt #BreweryArtwalk #LAart #TenArtists #SweetResistance #PleasureWithoutApology #ShoeboxArts #ConfectioneryArt #SugarAndSpice

CALLING ALL KNITTERS 🧶

Help bring healing through stitches

Artist Linda Litteral is seeking knitters to join a powerful community art project: "Remember - A Show to Honor Those Who Have Experienced Sexual Trauma" opening at Grossmont College in February 2027.

Your contribution matters: Each stitch represents a person who has experienced sexual trauma. Every banner you create becomes part of an immersive installation that gives voice to survivors and promotes healing.

What We Need:
Knitted streaming banners (4-8 feet long, width 1/2” to 11”)

Materials: Aunt Lydia's Crochet Thread in skin tones and red

Pattern: Simple garter stitch (knit every row)

Experience level: All welcome - Linda will teach beginners!

Why Knitting?
Knitting has been women's work for centuries - a source of healing, resistance, and community. The repetitive motion reduces stress hormones and promotes calm. For Linda, an incest survivor, knitting has been a lifelong tool of survival and healing.

How to Help:
✉️ Contact: lindalitteral@gmail.com

🔹 Materials reimbursed with receipts
🔹 Deadline for finished work: August 1, 2026
🔹 Recognition: Listed in exhibition catalog
🔹 Virtual support: Join knitting circles via Zoom

Donations accepted through fiscal sponsor:
Space 4 Art, 340 16th Street, San Diego, CA 92101 Please designate "Linda's Project"

"Sexual violence is one of the cornerstones of patriarchy. From my humble place, I believe the only way to dismantle it is through awareness. Art has always had the power to question assumptions and open the door to transformation." - Linda Litteral

Join us in creating art that heals, honors, and creates change.

#RememberProject #ArtForHealing #KnittingForChange #SexualTraumaSurvivors #CommunityArt #SanDiegoArt #GrossmontCollege #SocialJusticeArt #KnittersUnite #HealingThroughArt

Four days left to experience this collaboration.

@rayazyarbrough's final FREE concert for IMPROPER IDEOLOGY is Friday, September 26th at @taggallery. After that, the exhibition continues through September 27th, but this is your last chance to hear her perform these poems live in the same space where they live inside @pamdouglasart's visual work.

I keep thinking about how different this feels from a typical gallery show. The way Raya's voice moves through those suspended panels and around those tree branches extending from the walls... it's like the artwork comes alive when she performs.

The mother-daughter artistic collaboration that we've been documenting and celebrating is almost over. Don't let this one slip by.

Friday, September 26th
Doors open 6:30pm
Final concert 8pm

@taggallery, 5458 Wilshire Blvd

Four days to witness what happens when art refuses to whisper.

#ImproperIdeology #FinalConcert #FourDaysLeft #LastChance #TAGGallery @improper_ideology @pamdouglasart @rayazyarbrough

THE STORE IS LIVE

You can now purchase artwork from "Let Me Eat Cake, Please!" online before the crowds arrive for Brewery Artwalk.

Browse all 80+ pieces from the exhibition at shoeboxarts.com/category/all-products and claim your favorites early. Then pick them up at Shoebox during Brewery Artwalk October 25-26.

This means you can skip the decision-making pressure of the busy weekend and take your time choosing which food artworks speak to you. Plus you're guaranteed to get the pieces you want before someone else discovers them.

The online store features detailed images and pricing for every work in the show - from intimate studies of chocolate and pastries to bold celebrations of candy colors and birthday cake magic.

Opening reception is still October 5th 2-4pm if you want to see everything in person first. But if you already know you want to add some sweetness to your walls, the store is ready for you.

Buy early, pick up during Artwalk. Simple as that.

Link in bio or visit shoeboxarts.com/category/all-products

#LetMeEatCakePlease #OnlineStore #BreweryArtwalk #BuyEarly #FoodArt #ShoeboxArts #ArtCollecting #PickUpAtArtwalk

PR for Art Events: If You Don't Tell Anyone, No One Will Know

The truth about getting press in today's climate? It's harder than ever. But here's the thing - the more you try, the easier it gets. Name recognition matters.
Persistence pays off. And your art deserves to be seen.

At Shoebox, we believe that amazing art shouldn't remain a secret. That's why we're thrilled to be working PR for THREE incredible exhibitions happening right now:

🎭 Current Exhibitions We're Supporting:

IMPROPER IDEOLOGY
📍 TAG Gallery - September 2025
Featuring Pam Douglas and Raya Yarbrough - This groundbreaking show includes both visual art and live concerts, challenging conventional narratives and exploring the intersection of art and ideology.

FREE TO SP%@K!
📍 Village Well Books & Coffee - Opening October 4th
A politically charged group exhibition featuring Kathryn Pellman, Kelly Hartigan Goldstein, and MartyO. This powerful show tackles freedom of expression in our current political climate.

ABANDONED
📍 Los Angeles Art Association (LAAA) - Opening October 25th
Monica Marks' solo exhibition opens on her birthday! This deeply personal body of work explores themes of abandonment, resilience, and transformation.

💡 Why Professional PR Matters:
✨ Strategic Media Outreach - We know which publications actually cover emerging artists
✨ Event Calendar Listings - Getting you in front of the right audience at the right time
✨ Press Release Distribution - Professional writing that gets editors' attention
✨ Social Media Amplification - Building buzz before, during, and after your show
✨ Network Access - 11 years of LA art world connections at your service

🤝 Ready to Get Your Work Noticed?
Whether you're planning your first group show or your tenth solo exhibition, Shoebox offers scalable PR packages for every budget - from emerging artists to established galleries.

Contact us today:
📧 shoeboxartsla@gmail.com
🌐 shoeboxarts.com
📱 Follow @shoeboxarts.la

If you join as a member artist, let's talk about a discount on PR too!

Don't let your amazing work stay hidden. Let's get the word out together.

Let Me Eat Cake, Please! Artwork is arriving in the mail!!

Exciting!!

LUSCIOUS LAYERS

These artists know that food is art and art is food. Swipe through more incredible pieces heading to the walls at Shoebox for "Let Me Eat Cake, Please!"

The textures, colors, and compositions in these works make you question where culinary craft ends and fine art begins. Whether celebrating the sculptural beauty of a perfectly frosted cake or exploring the emotional resonance of childhood treats, each piece adds to our salon-style feast covering every inch of wall space.

Opening Reception: October 5, 2-4pm
Bring something sweet to share at our dessert potluck

Brewery Artwalk: October 25-26, 11am-6pm
When thousands will discover this delicious abundance

This exhibition creates space for both visual pleasure and meaningful conversations about our relationships with food, comfort, and healing.

50 artists. Endless sweetness. One unforgettable experience.

Event details in bio.
https://www.facebook.com/events/676708912108894
#LetMeEatCakePlease #FoodArt #BreweryArtwalk #LAart #SweetIndulgence #ArtistCommunity #VisualTaste #ShoeboxArts #SalonStyle #ArtHeals

Running critique groups for years and this question keeps coming up: Does critique actually help or just perpetuate art school trauma?

(Let me tell you - it's complicated)

Some critique crushes the exact risk-taking that makes work interesting. But the right kind builds community and teaches you how to talk about your work (which you'll need for grants, shows, studio visits... all of it).

The method matters. Feldman's systematic approach, SPARK framework that prioritizes personal connection, Liz Lerman's artist-controlled process - they all create different experiences.

Maybe the real value isn't even the feedback. Maybe it's staying in conversation with people who understand why making art matters.

Because working alone in the studio all day? It gets lonely.

New piece breaks down what actually works (and what doesn't) when it comes to critique culture. Link in bio!
https://shoeboxarts.substack.com/p/should-artists-do-critique-the-real

Support Shoebox by subscribing to our Substack - $5/month or $50/year gets you deeper dives into the real challenges artists face ⬇️

#artistcommunity #artcritique #artistsupportingartists #artpractice #emergingartist #studiolife #artworld #artadvice #criticalthinking #artschool #contemporaryart #creativecommunity #artbusiness #professionalartist #artcareer

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