*Recap* Chris Ryniak & Amanda Louise Spayd's 'Migration' @ Stranger Factory 3/1

In case anyone has been living under a rock for the past month or so, we're absolutely stoked about Chris Ryniak and Amanda Louise Spayd's Migration exhibition, which opened last Friday at Stranger Factory in Albuquerque, NM. To close the book on our Making Of series, I had the pleasure of flying down to the desert to thaw out my frost-bitten Torontonian buns and cover the show for you, beloved blog readers!

Since its grand opening in June 2011, I've flown out to Stranger Factory six times. That said, you start to know what to expect from the exhibiting artists, the attendees and the staff. Chris and Amanda flew in late Wednesday to get an early start on hanging the show on Thursday, and by the time I arrived that afternoon, the show was well on its way. Having attended their previous collaboration show, Late Season, in Nov. 2011, I walked in thinking it'd be a proportionately stronger show.

Well hot damn, was I ever wrong.

The show is massive. It's MASSIVE. These two cranked out a combined total of 87(!) original and custom pieces ranging from drawings and paintings, to soft sculpture and resin (take a look at our Making Of series for an in-depth look at the amazing pieces). And there was something for everyone's budget: show works ranged from $35 to $2800, while limited editions like postcard sets or toys ranged from $14 to $150. And the sheer volume and affordability of works proved to be a saviour opening night: aside from the usual crowd of local collectors who pass through every First Friday, about 20 Circus Posterus "boardies" also flew in for the show. By the time 6pm rolled around, the store section of Stranger Factory was at capacity. A quick head count showed there was at least 60 of us waiting to purchase; nothing I (or the staff) have ever seen. If anyone has ever doubted the cult of Circus Posterus, I can assure you that it exists, and it's growing at the rate of a Katamari ball. It was really inspiring.

With so many people attending the show, the Stranger Factory staff, lead by owners Kathie Olivas and Brandt Peters, had no choice but to hold a lottery for purchases. Each of us received a number that was tossed into a bag and drawn at random by Valency Genis, the gallery's workshop director. When your number was called, you were allowed to enter the gallery and had two minutes to select one piece to purchase. It was the best way to level the playing field, but the anxiety in the room was almost palpable. The air became thick while people shuffled about in their spot nervously, silently praying that their selections would be available when their turn came to climb the gallery steps. But what was most amazing to me was the sense of community remained intact during the lottery. People would clap or cheer when a fellow collector, boardie or friend was called. No one was faced with a situation where they left empty handed or were disappointed with their choice. In what is often a considered a no-win scenario, the lottery was a resounding success and the SF team made the whole process seamless.

The lottery took about an hour from start to finish, and the gallery was then re-opened to the public. Chris and Amanda were as gracious and hilarious as ever, making time to talk to everyone and sketch/sign whatever was handed to them. They even made bindles filled with tiny survivor tools for the collectors who made made the trek to the show. Given the enormity of exhibition, the three-hour opening flew by in what felt like minutes. After the opening, I asked Chris if he'll have any downtime before the next project. He laughed. "I'll be able to take about a week, and then it's back to it." "Monsters and Misfits?" I asked. He nodded. "Yes ... in September. It's gonna be huge."

Migration is on display through March 31st at Stranger Factory. Check out the preview page for remaining available works; there's only a handful left and they're going fast! A full photo gallery of the opening awaits you below and there's more on my Instagram. Enjoy!