Gallery recommendations

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Permalink Reply by Gilles Mansillon on February 7, 2008 at 21:34

hello chritopher; i like your work, it is very light and very elegant.
although i am fully involve now in my own creative process, i have been a gallery dealer, a private dealer and an art broker for over 20 years, so i have some insights into the politics of the art world.
as far as i know, no gallery will ever claim to be open to receive portefolios, but do not let that stop you.
when i had my gallery in santa monica, i use to receive 10 to 20 portefolios every week and when i though an artist was great i made space for a show within the next year, but most gallery won't do that. most of them have chosen 10 to 12 artists and will hang on to that group for as long as the gallery will exist wihtout ever creating an sorte of opening unless for some art star they chance to run into. that being said, when you go to a gallery, if you like what is shown, talk to the people, if they are nice and receptive to your ideas, show them your work and even if you are cordially rejected, continue to make presentation to them over time or keep them on your mailing list... if they like your work, they may eventualy make space for you. i don' like to be pushy, but it seems to be the only way with gallery as they are so much solicitated, so it is ok to insiste, be persistant and never give up.
of course it is much better if people come to you, but if there is a connection you feel, keep in touch and be patient.
if you go to LA, i use to work with a lady who owned a gallery that was specialised in sculpture named feingarten. gail feingarten's interest was more toward 20th century masters then avant garde, yet you never know. i have also worked with someone who is also specialised in sculpture in Ny by the name of robert pardo. bob has a gallery in chelsea, and i have been told recently opened one in zurich and one in rome/ the sculpture he represent are more industrial, but again you never know.
i hope this message will have meaning for you; best wishes of success in your prospection;
Gilles M

Permalink Reply by Christopher Gulick on February 21, 2008 at 3:17

Hallo Gilles,
I do appreciate you sharing your perspective and experience.
I myself have been very active for about 15 years in producing exhibits in various galleries and public facilities. However, it has been wholly in the midwest, specifically Kansas. This area is a great place to exhibit. Lots of public interest, plenty of participation from artists at the college level to autodidactic adult. While the reputation for conservatism may precede us here in the middle states, convervative is not the mainstay. People in Kansas are really the same as the rest of the country for the most part.
The problem is patrons.
Patrons willing and ready to cut loose with the visa card.
Then we have the problem of lack of media interest/ coverage with our exhibits.
So...we are a bit isolated.
Hence, my efforts to exhbit out of state and abroad.
I very much enjoyed the NYC exhbit and Berlin was very enlightening.
Both helped with the "Big fish in little pond syndrome" as I call it.
This week I finished installing my exhibit at our own Wichita Art Museum.
That has been a year-long coming project. Whew!
I'm glad it is in and now I can realax and focus again.
After spending the last 3 years working on exhibitions to fill a portfolio and attain goals, I now know it is time for "Art for Arts sake"
I have a couple of hundred sketches in my books of designs to build from, so time to get away from the rigors of "exhibiting" and remember how to be a sculptor, Ha!
So...share an opinion please,...while I'm working on new pieces I do wish to continue to send CVs out as I see a gallery to solicit (in person or from magazine ads).
Do you think it would be appropriate to send a CV that has photos of a current exhibit that will be up for 1-2 years ( hence not available)...or to only send anew CV with new pics of very recent work?
Perhaps it would depend on how different the new work is from these other pieces that are 1-2 years old, eh?
Maybe I'm still too close to the workaholism of these exhibits.
Perhaps shutting up, chilling and going into the studio might help...whew!
Well.. I'm open for responses.
Christopher

Permalink Reply by Gilles Mansillon on February 23, 2008 at 3:09

hello christopher, i think you have to show the best work possible, even if it not available (or not available for sale in an exhibition). that often mean showing the latest work. i would send out a brochure of most recent work and/or you may want to have a more scholare version of your work, with retrospective aspect to it. most people are very busy so it is not always better to send more, but some people are real art professionals and therefore you may want to send a more complete view and presentation of your work to some of them; you have to feel it out. that is what i did when contacting potential clients, intitutions and patrons. if you need to go out and breath, look at the sun or the stars, do it, then go create. amicalement, Gilles
ps: of course if you send out presentation for showing your work, you also have to have work to show at hand or within a short time, that beings said exhibitions are set up far in advance as you know, so go with your feelings..

Permalink Reply by Christopher Gulick on February 23, 2008 at 4:07

Thanks Gilles.
It helps to hear when one is on the right track.
I'll be spending this sring and summer prepping fro an new fall solo.
So...back to work!
Danke, Chris

Permalink Reply by Christopher Gulick on September 10, 2008 at 4:08

Hi Dorothy,
Thanks, I'll check it out.
Chris

Permalink Reply by AHMED SHALABY on November 30, 2009 at 14:28

A new method of sculpting the wall.
To see my art work visits my website:
http://ahmed-shalaby.fineartamerica.com
Email: artahmedshalaby@hotmail.com

AHMED SHALABY