Turning Down an Art Gallery
Monday July 20, 2009
In Joanne Mattera's blog about the 'other' side of the artist/gallery relationship, where you find yourself wanting to turn down a gallery when everyone around you seems to be searching for gallery representation, I love this description of the gallery-owner personalities:
"Is the dealer a screamer (watch how he treats the staff); a schemer (do you hear stories of artists being pitted against one another); woefully disorganized (payments are late, work gets "lost" or actually misplaced, inventory records are incomplete); a manic type who needs everything yesterday then oh-never-minds after you have killed yourself to deliver?"Especially relevant as I've been having an email conversation with a friend who's being pressurized by someone to participate in a show, about how trying to turn them down gently just isn't getting the message across. Definitely time to say "We're not a good fit" and hope they don't have a fit. Read Joanne's full blog: How to Reject a Gallery...
Love this…you never hear much about having to turn down a gallery, but it’s one of those awkward situations that rears it’s ugly head from time to time. Great post by Joanne.
Outstanding information! Thankyou. “All that glitters is not gold.” If the artist or their work is not respected, take it elsewhere. I really liked how Ms. Mattera addressed the personal nature of this business relationship. I’ve had those gut feelings that something was off, and I left. I’m much more a believer in a slow climb than the promise of any gallery. Slow and steady is what got me to a place where they were interested, so I’ll just keep going. Someone else will be interested. To continue the metaphor, I didn’t marry the first schlep that asked. Now is not the time to start settling. Thanks for the tips!