Hi everyone:
I'm sorry it has been a while since my last post - I've been running around like a maniac the last couple of weeks. A NYC trip, home for a day, trip to Chicago, f--ked up my back in the process...it's been a roller coaster ride and I'm exhausted.
This latest blog entry comes courtesy of the business center in the Fairmont Hotel in Chicago, where my wife and I staying this evening. An old friend of my wife's is getting married, and with her bridesmaid duties and all the craziness this evening is sure to include, we decided that staying the night would be a good thing. Tasty food at Tuffano's last night in Little Italy...best chicken vesuvio I've ever had. In fact, after I said this to the groom-to-be, he mentioned that their vesuvio was featured on the Food Network. Their tiramisu and canolis should have been on there too...YUM!
On the art side of things, it truly has been a mixed bag. Upon delivering my new work to Ken Jones, I was told that the piece they had sold a month or so ago was actually returned by the buyer. Definitely a first in my career, but not unheard of - probably didn't go with their couch or their spouse didn't like it as much as they did. Regardless, this is one of the disadvantages of having your work in a retail space (even a very upscale one) instead of a traditional "gallery" setting. Hopefully this is one small bump in the road and the work will continue to garner interest. I sold two more unframed prints to my pal Jenn (thanks Jenn!), so this news, while unwelcome, was by no means tragic.
But then, something happened on my trip to NYC last week which turned things around a bit. I was walking around SOHO and happened upon a gallery with some high quality, abstract works on paper. I walked in to get a closer look and struck up a conversation with the young lady who was sitting at the desk. We spent 30 minutes or so chatting about art, the gallery space, the artists being shown, and I come to find out that this 26 year old woman is the owner of the gallery. I'd assumed she was an intern or something - and I was overcome with emotion...it was awesome to see someone entering the field at such a young age, and in such a risky economy. Artists need people like her, and at a time when many galleries are going out of business and gallery directors and curators are changing careers, she's taking the plunge. BRAVO!
I entered the gallery simply to look at the work - not to promote myself in any way (see one of my previous posts about my feelings on these kinds of situations), but once she found out I was an artist, she asked that I send her some work "even if you're not interested, just because I like looking at work." So, I sent her some of my current work when I got back to PA, along with my website and my brand-spanking new artist's statement. A couple of days went by, I got on a plane to Chicago and soon thereafter I get an e-mail apologizing for her taking so long to respond (definitely new to the industry - grizzled veterans are not nearly so polite) and she indicated that she loved my work and wanted to "showcase it." Now, I've made no secret about my opinions on the NYC art scene - I don't think it's for everybody and don't necessarily believe that it is the center of the art universe. But, many people are of the opinion that it all begins and ends in NYC and a show in SOHO would be great for my resume. Additionally, the chance to accomplish this feat in a gallery that shows very high quality work with a young, dedicated director would be great. I have no additional details yet, but when I do, I promise to share them.
The business center here has a time limit, so more to come later. Back from Chicago on Monday and then out of town again for a couple of days, but I'll try for another entry next weekend.
-Marc
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