Some Art Venues Embarrassing?
i would like to comment
on my own blog
my own opinion
about an ongoing conversation
between the gatesofmemphis blog
and the lantana events blog
about the interview ian did with fredric koeppel
and particularily a comment fredric made
"Show as much as you can at spaces that are not embarrassing (no beauty salons, frame stores and pet shops)."
the gatesof memphis blog
did not really agree with this statement
or this statement
"We have more alternative spaces, more independent and non-profit groups, more artists (and many of the same artists), but it’s clearly still a struggle to make and sell art in what is essentially an artistically conservative town."
gatesofmemphis blog
is of the opinion
one should show art everywhere
and he gives numerous locations
of where that art should be shown
then
ian comments on the gatesofmemphisblog
"As an artist myself, I can tell you that putting your art in these places will definitely harm your career. It takes only a little while for people (after they've seen your work around) to begin approaching you with "opportunities". They mean well, and will tell you they are curating a show in some restaurant or hair salon somewhere, and at first you will do a few of these kinds of shows and say to yourself, "maybe this will help my career". Trust me, it won't. No one goes to the hair salon to look at or buy art. Instead, the hair salon is getting free, revolving are placed on their walls ao they don't have to go out and buy any. Frederic's advice was right, and I, for one, am going to take it. Memphis may be conservative artistically, but that's no reason to start hanging your art in places where people will not see it, buy it, or care about it."
i think i have to disagree somewhat here
because i just happen to curate a space
that is in a restaurant
the p and h cafe
it may not be a traditional restaurant
and it sure in the hell
is not a traditional
nontraditonal space
but the exhibitons are important
important to the artists
important to the patrons of the p and h
it is a small space
the lighting is not that good
the exhibition wall is crooked
and to paraphrase fredric and carol and andrea
all of whom have written about shows
at the p and h
it is the worlds smallest gallery in memphis
i have put on over 25 solo shows at the p and h
and with the exception of about five
each artist has sold something
most have sold it all
last night for example
jason cole had an opening
no one in this cities art scene knows of him
except for me
and he has sold three pieces so far
bought buy people who do not care about art
they never go anywhere to look at art
and the only art they see
is the art i hang at the p and h
it helps the artist to work on their first public art
i am talking about the table tops here
not a traditoal form of public art
but some of these artists
get commissions to make more art
as a result of these table tops
i think that is important
important to the artists
i think the artists think it is important as well
as i have a waiting list about a year long
and i think i may have to disagree
with the statement
that it wont help the career
of an artist to show in such a place
i think the shows getting reviewed
is a help to the artist
some of these artists have gotten shows
in traditional white walled exhibition spaces
as a result of these shows
some of these artists have gotten
their work reproduced in national magazines
and printed on the front covers of books
as a result of having these shows
i think it is important for the artists
to have a place to have their first shows
which start out on a good note
because
people who do not care about art
buy it
these artists get to see their name in the paper
these artists have another addition on the web
when they google their name
some get to have an interview with me
that i post on this blog
and a shit load of people read this blog
from NYC to Los Angeles
it may not be a space
where an established artist
would want to have a show
which is not really true
as some the more established
well known artists
in this city
want to have a show at the p and h
i dont know what that says
but i think it says a lot
regarding shows in such venues
that are like the p and h
but are not the p and h
are important to the artists
and the people putting on the shows
take for example the shows
the gallery management class at rhodes puts together
this is
i think
great experience for young aspiring artists
and young aspiring curators
having a one day show at donald donuts
may not get you an interview
with the curator of the whitney biennial
but it is a start
and you cant end up at the top
without starting at the bottom
i am curious to know the locations
of the first exhibitons
that greely myatt had
terri jones had
veda reed had
hamlett dobbins had
elizabeth alley had
susan maakestad had
larry edwards had
pinkney herbert had
tad lauritzen wright had
alan duckworth had
ian lemmonds had
mel spillman had
mark nowell had
nancy cheirs had
just to name a few
all quotes printed without permission
beause that is the way i roll
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