Meet Curator of V.3, Luis Antonio Fraire
Luis Antonio Fraire in the 7500 square foot gallery of The Sprinkler Factory, in Worcester, MA.
Since 2013, Luis Antonio Fraire has been Managing Director at the Sprinkler Factory Art Gallery, a non-profit arts space, of 7500 square feet in a historic industrial factory building in Worcester, Massachusett. In his role as Director, Luis has been facilitating the production of independent art exhibitions and cultural events, starting with his first curation venture, the 14 artist group show. “Exotic Information”. Shows are selected based on the content of artists proposals, with considerations about represention of the widest range of art and artists in any given year.
During covid, an immediate pivot was necessary to keep the gallery sustainable and Luis turned a near-disaster into a symbiotic celebration of slow art, where viewers were able to view art by appointment, the magnificent proportions of the well-attended opening became a fortuitous intimate interaction with art and increased sales. Fraire’s successful group show concepts kept artists and visitors in a live stream of contribution and show visits throughout the month’s schedules.
Under Fraire’s direction, Sprinkler Factory has produced, co-produced and curated exhibitions at a near-monthly schedule, annually featuring the works of hundreds of regional artists showing thousands of artworks, attracting large and enthusiastic audiences. According to Fraire, “Each exhibit requires individual attention and careful consideration of each artwork to be displayed, with the goal of an effective presentation as a complete body of work that successfully communicates the artist's intentions.”
In addition to his work at the Sprinkler Factory, Luis is active in artistic and cultural events in the City of Worcester, most recently he produced the plein air painting exhibition, "Urban Green and Blue”, a collaboration between ArtsWorcester and Preservation Worcester at The Park View Room. Luis served on the inaugural board of the Salisbury Cultural District as “Artist Representative” and contributes his expertise to the Worcester Historical Museum’s Harvey Ball Committee annually.
Luis is also an active musician, previously as a drummer in the progressive rock bands Juggernaut and Oblique, beat and synth musician in the electronic experimental groups The Pandas and ii nub, and is currently with the rock quartet, Fabulous with Don Hartmann, Robb Sandagata and Scott Boilard. Luis also creates paintings, video art and is currently experimenting with wood and found object assemblages.
Our decision to choose Luis Antonio Fraire as curator for V.3 Shift rests on a few very strong reasons. For over a decade he has grown the inclusive community of The Sprinkler Factory in the most ambitious and admired ways. The energy and community in this space not only allows artists, emerging and well-established —to show their work, but also uplifts the artists to reach new viewers in ways that other galleries cannot, because of the business model of the non-profit (AGSF-Artist Group of the Sprinkler Factory). Luis is also one of the most revered members of the arts community in the city, dedicating his time and expertise to events that impact the overall message that “Worcester is a creative city”. Luis is so well-respected and we would be remiss if we did not brag that he does rub elbows with the highest level of art industry in central Massachusetts and is married to Birgit Straehle, one of the finest art conservators. Their lives are intertwined and connected to culture in every facet. Plus, they are two of the coolest people in town. They would cringe at this, because they are so down to earth, but their “power couple” prowess got them some attention recently, as they were named “The Power Fifty of 2021” by Worcester Business Journal. We have worked with Luis many times promoting our art events at the gallery space and his professionalism and attitude always ensure our return. Luis has curated some of the most successful shows in Massachusetts, bringing in visitors by heavy promotion and marketing, which increases the sales for the artists. Having his skills and network are invaluable to the art community.
ABOUT SPRINKLER FACTORY:
The arts space at the Sprinkler Factory provides a welcoming multifaceted venue to nurture and promote the visual and performing arts communities of Central Massachusetts. By providing 7500 square feet of exhibition space and virtually no size limits for sculpture, installations and 2D, the gallery at the Sprinkler Factory is one of the most active and massive exhibition spaces for contemporary art in Central Massachusetts. In addition to the gallery, the space features a performance stage for theater, music, talks, spoken word and film with an 85 seat capacity.
