Art Addict

A show to see in Washington DC

If you are going to be in the Washington DC area any time soon you should check this out:

DRAWING ROOM
February 29-March 26
Drawings by Mary Temple

Curated for the Arts Club of Washington by Stacey Schmidt, Assistant Curator of Contemporary Art at the Corcoran Gallery of Art

2017 I Street, NW
Washington DC 20006-1804
202-331-7282

I am a big fan of Mary's and I highly recommend seeing her work in person!

Lamar Peterson

I'm in LA this weekend. The weather is terrible, rainy and cold, but I bumped into a bit of sunshine at the Richard Heller Gallery last night. I was introduced to Lamar Peterson, both the artist and his work. I like everything about this work... the humor, the color, the delicate sinister touches, and the price. These works are priced between $800 and $2,000. I purchased a few works on paper. Go to the Richard Heller Gallery to see more works by this artist. Richard Heller will be at the New York Armory Show with more of Lamar's work in March.

Hello? Anyone home?

Yesterday I spent a few hours with a friend visiting galleries in my neighborhood (Chelsea, New York City) and came to realize after our first few stops that we were being ignored. We casually wandered through gallery spaces looking at art and taking our time but not once did a gallery member approach us. In three of the five galleries we visited we didn't even SEE another human being because the staff was protected from the riffraff behind thick white walls and closed doors. Shocking? No. Frustrating? Yes. A few posts ago I mentioned that galleries were now doing more to focus on 'client experience.' Apparently the galleries we visited are not doing much to make their walk-in traffic feel welcomed or wanted. I am the first to admit that I don't want someone following me around like a sales clerk hungry for a commission when I am looking at art, but a simple "Hello. Let me know if I can answer any questions for you," would be nice.

I got a message at work today from the director of a gallery we stopped into yesterday asking that I come see their show before it comes down. I saw the show. They missed seeing me.

UPDATE: I recently found an old post from MAN offering tips to gallerists. It should be required reading for all gallerists.

What are you waiting for?

I recently spoke at Moore College of Art in Philadelphia on the topic of collecting emerging art and the question that came up again and again from the audience was, "How do I start collecting art?" I was amazed at the sheer panic people feel facing their first or second purchase of art. My response, over and over again, is to stop THINKING about purchasing art and just do it! Jump in feet first and plop down some cash for an original work of art - ANY ART. What is so damn scary about buying art? Forget about trying to "perfect" your collection right out of the gate - start small and buy something - anything - original. It is supposed to be fun. No root canal pain here. If you like it, buy it - especially in the beginning. You have years to develop your tastes and opinions but you have to start somewhere by making that first purchase leap. Don't think, just buy. Once you have made that first purchase of original art, the second, third, fourth time will feel easier and easier and soon enough you'll feel like a pro. So, what are you waiting for?

What type of collector are you?

What is a collector? Most of us know deep inside what it means to collect. Weren't we all collectors as kids? Comic books, 45's, albums, cassettes, stuffed animals, rocks, baseball cards, bottle caps, jacks, beer cans, candy wrappers, shells, stamps, stickers, postcards, Absolut Vodka ads, etc. My dad has an amazing collection of airplane Emergency Evacuation Cards that he has gathered off of airlines from around the world. My brother has a very funky belt buckle collection. Look around your home and you may stumble upon collections you didn't even know you had. Do you prefer to own DVDs instead of renting them? Do you have more than one set of china or a random assortment of wine glasses that you picked up in antique stores? Have you brought a rock or a shell home from every trip you have ever been on? How many shoes are in your closet that you bought swearing you would one day wear but have yet to touch those little piggies? These are collections. You are a collector.

So what makes someone an art collector? An art collector can come in many shapes and can most obviously be defined as 'someone who has a lot of art.' Here are a just a few of the categories I've come up with to slice and dice the art collecting community:

The Decorators: This group buys art to fill their spaces and decorate their environments. They care about the color of the artwork to make sure it matches the couch and measure how far off the wall the work projects to make sure it can be hung in a hallway.

The Investors: This group is all about 'buy low, sell high'. They seek guarantees (impossible to come by in the art market) that the works they purchase will increase in value. They enjoy buying and selling at auction. They often work with an art consultant or someone whose opinion they trust.

The Specialists: This group buys art that fits into specific categories. Their collections consist of Mexican art from the 1920's, art that depicts hands, Picasso prints, or art that was made in the year they were born.

The Vacationers: This group buys art during a trip from local galleries and artists.

The Thrill Seekers: This group buys when there is a frenzy around an artist. These people generally buy at a gallery show when most of the work has already sold. They want in on something that is cool or hot.

The Generalists: This group buys art at different times for different reasons. Most have a broad area of interest in art - contemporary or photography or painting - and collect art in waves or whenever they feel moved.

The Addicts: This group buys art because they have to. They generally have more art than space to put it in. They go to shows on a regular basis and strive to keep up with what's happening in the art world.

I have fallen into each of these categories at one time or another. I also believe that art collectors can be a combination of a few of the categories. One of my friends is a 'Decorator Specialist'. She only buys art when she redecorates her home or has empty wall space to fill and only collects black and white photography.

Write me or add a comment on what type of collector (art or otherwise) you are and other categories you have come up with in your experience.

Why Blog?

I created this weblog to share my knowledge of contemporary art. I have found in meeting people both professionally and personally that most of us are quite intimidated when it comes to buying art. Historically the art market has succeeded by remaining aloof, elitist, and closed to the masses. Times have changed and to survive in the current economy most galleries, dealers, museums and auction houses are now doing more to open their doors to a new audience. 'Client Experience', a concept widely accepted by most retail and service industries today, is slowly becoming an important tool in growing the art industry. This concept five years ago would have been shunned by most as the beginning of the end of the contemporary art market. This blog represents that change. Let's talk, let's share, let's ask the difficult questions about art and collecting, and let's start buying oringinal art. I believe that no home should be without an original work of art. I believe that original art adds value to any environment. I hope that this blog will assist those interested in collecting contemporary art to take that leap and join me in my addiction.