A Little Ditty on Galleries

12:09 PM 11/23/2015; update 2:31 PM 7/15/2016.  This was written in NC before my move to Whidbey Island WA in Feb/Mar 2016.

I haven’t posted to my blog in 6 years.  I felt that I had nothing to say that was worth publishing.  I would write something.  The next day I didn’t believe what I had written.  So I stopped writing altogether.

Today I felt like writing this little ditty on galleries.

After 2000, or so, as the artist/gallery structure started to morph into something that I didn’t understand or no longer fit, I found it harder and harder to write about my art.  My art for the most part is not narrative and therefore is not easily represented through word constructions.  My work still isn’t narrative.  I have finally given up trying to explain in words what I do in painting, sculpture and digital imaging.  Galleries, grant organizations, and others want artists to make “artist statements” about what we “do”.  The decision makers who run these organizations seem to need a manual that explains the art before they endorse it for exhibit or grant offerings.  I could never write a convincing sales pitch about my work.  Uhhhh!  It is nonverbal!

Galleries

In 2009 I ended my last relationship with a commercial gallery.  The director was micromanaging big time and in the end wanted to dictate what I should create so he could sell it to his commodity oriented clients.  He wanted me to be a market artist.  No-no!  Over!

A short story:  Back in 1988-89, my gallery director decided to increase his commission from 40% to 50%.  No problem.  I adjusted my retail prices accordingly.  Upon delivery to the gallery a set of new paintings, I was greeted –the new paintings were priced too high.  He wouldn’t accept the paintings until I lowered my prices.  I then wanted him to lower his commission and he said no.  Dilemma?  I reluctantly agreed to lower my prices which effectively negated my price increase to match his 10% increase.  I never made any money from this gallery again.  Broke even at best!

Since 1989 I have had this same battle over my prices not fitting a gallery commission of 50%.  What I needed in pricing so I could at least make a minimal profit, the galleries would not accept.  When I moved from CT to NC in 1991, I decided to drop out of the commercial art circus.  In 1995 I joined a Galley in NC.  Agreements were nice and acceptable.  Not many sales though.  In 1999 this gallery closed.  I again dropped out of the commercial art circus.  In 2006 I joined my last gallery.  This relationship ended in disaster in 2009 as I stated at the start of this commentary.  As I write this, 2015, I remain unrepresented.  I love the freedom.

As it now operates in the Charlotte NC area, artists take it upon themselves to self promote and sell through studio weekends or other collaborations.  Works very well.  The commercial gallery scene in Charlotte is dead at best.  If I am really interested in getting back into selling my art, self promotion is the way I would go.  I am not interested.  Want some art?  Buy a print from the internet for under $5.00.   Or get involved in extreme postmodernism.  Call yourself and artist and make your own art.

I haven’t quite figured this out yet, but I believe the internet and postmodernism and commodity invasion of the art markets has killed creativity in visual arts except for the rare few individuals who have figured out a way to self promote and succeed in the commercial world of art as commodity and still make art that is personal and creative.  Some of the art that comes from this arrangement is questionable, but there is no paradigm by which to judge it.  Postmodernism accepts anything as art by anyone who wants to call themselves an artist.  Interesting times????

Update:  2:54 PM 7/15/2016:  I recently read an interesting interview with artist Sterling Ruby.  Conversation came up dealing with his connection being labeled a “Market Artist”.  Interesting read!  Also I remain unrepresented by a commercial art venue.

 

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