Originally posted on 08-20-2015
For years, I have worked on the flip side of the art world, that is, in galleries, schools, etc. And for years, I have been told how flaky and unprepared artists are, and I have seen it myself! I promised myself that I would never be one of those artists, that I would always have my work wired, lists ready to go, and be on time for pick ups, drop offs, and receptions. However, a few weeks ago, I was not. I was very unprofessional. I made an incredibly difficult decision, one that I struggled with. I took my artwork out a gallery three weeks before my show was suppose to end to put it in another show. Why would I do such a thing?
I’m not going to name names, but I had a solo show with an art center. All summer I looked forward to this show, and spent all my free time between multiple jobs working on new paintings. The day came to hang my show. The owner met me at the gallery, which was currently serving as a day care for young children. As I laid out my work, gingerly stepping over piles of shoes and art projects, I was informed that my show was not going to be seen by anyone. The gallery would be closed for the entire month that my show would be hanging. I was devastated. All the work I had done was for nothing. I would get an opening and that would be it. If someone wanted to make an appointment to come see it, it would have to align with the owners’ busy schedules, who were now taking vacations, having new children, getting married, etc. No one was going to see my show.
My opening was underwhelming. I received minimum advertising from the gallery. The had posted in the local art map, and that was it. Not even a shout out on their website or their Facebook page. I was told to create my own event and promote it myself. So that is what I did.
As guests arrived, the owner made it her mission to prevent me from speaking to anyone. I was not renewing my contract with the gallery, so she did not want me deterring potential members. She greeted every guest like they were her new best friend, except my parents, who she purposely avoided to the point that my mother even commented on the cold shoulder they were receiving. I spoke to the other owner, who’s response was that the other woman was upset with me for abandoning them.
When I had signed with these two a year ago, they had just started this brand new business where they wanted to represent artists and form a community where we could all mingle and interact. Fast forward to present day, I had received four opportunities to show my work: one being this show, one being a totally legit show that I was happy with, one where I was filling in for an artist that had backed out at the last moment, and lastly one at a brewery where my work was placed behind a stack of barrels. Most of these occurred when I had first signed up, and then there was radio silence from them for about 6 months or so. With regards to the community aspect of the program, there had been two group critiques that had good turn-out, but then were cancelled due to the colder months and then never heard from again.
I was told that they were focusing on the new art center they had just rented and were trying to promote classes there, specifically for children. Great! I thought, I can teach. Only two of my classes ran, both featuring mainly or only friends of mine that I had invited. For my first class that actually ran, I waited outside in below freezing weather for a half an hour waiting to be let in, as did those attending who had started showing up with the doors being locked. Every month, there was minimum advertisement, but I expected low numbers due to the program being new. Every month, I would text the owner, asking them whether my class would be running or not. Usually I’d get a response only minutes before I was suppose to leave to teach. For the last class this summer that I was scheduled to teach, I was told flat out only an hour before the class was suppose to start that they didn’t promote the class, and that they didn’t even want it to run. Two people had signed up, and they decided to cancel it anyway. They told me that they would start refocusing on classes in the fall.
Back to present day. I had an opportunity to show at a large art event in town. I originally thought that I would be able to show my new work in both. The aforementioned gallery kept pushing my show back. Two weeks after my opening, I got an email saying to drop off my work the next day. What was I going to do?! My work was still in the other show. I had a decision to make: keep the work up or lose the chance to have my work up at the largest art event in Vermont. I decided to stand up for myself and do what was best for me and my career. I took my work down.
I might have burned a bridge, but hopefully new ones will be built. I’ve already had great feedback from my show, and a few opportunities from it. Most importantly, people are now seeing my artwork. I can only hope that I have made the right decision. I hated having to take down my show early, but I also hate being taken advantage of by the people I put my trust in. It is incredibly hard to try and make it as an artist, but it shouldn’t have to be. Why does the art world need to be so cut-throat? Why can’t we all just help each other make it? More on this later. Until then, here’s some eye candy.
