Okay, everybody, it’s time to break out the turtlenecks, because there’s an art show coming to town! However, those expecting hordes of wealthy elitists, swinging their checkbooks like badges of honor, will be sorely disappointed.

Tabula Rasa is a non-profit facility dedicated to “offering new and unique classes and facilities for artistic growth in Eastern North Carolina.” According to their website, there are over 600 artists living in Wilmington and approximately only 15 places to showcase artwork. Tablua Rasa organized Art for the Masses as a means for local artists to show and sell their art. In the process, the organization is offering the public affordable, original artwork and forming a community with local artists.

“I think it will be nice for artists to have a place where it easy to just put up their artwork without out all the hassle of going through other people. You just paint, put it up there, and wait for people to buy it,” said art student Liana Pesci.

This is the third Art for the Masses event, and it is being advertised as an event with “No gallery, no middlemen, no wine, no cheese, just hardcore capitalism.” All the artwork will be priced from $25 to $250 with 100% of the proceeds going to the artists themselves.

“I’m pretty excited to see what will be up there,” says Emily Crawford, a junior at UNCW. “Most artwork is so expensive unless you buy a print or a replication.”

The organizers of the event wish to emphasize that although the purpose of Art for the Masses is to give local artists exposure, the event is still a fine art sale. They say that the success of the sale will depend on the artists’ abilities to offer artwork that is both affordable and of a desirable quality.

There is limited space, so only about 100 artists will be expected to participate. For those interested in showing work, there is a $40 entry fee, which covers the artist’s tables and advertising. The remainder of the proceeds will go to Tabula Rasa’s non-profit community darkroom. The entry deadline is Wednesday, September 8th at 5 p.m.

Art for the Masses III will take place on Saturday, September 25, 2004 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. It will be held on the first and second floors of the Roudabusch Building, located at the corner of Front and Dock Street.

For more information, contact Tabula Rasa at 910-619-9296.