SO I have been extremely undilligent (new word) in posting to this blog. I actually like writing them but just never find the time. In addition to being busy designing framing, thinking up and installing new shows and servicing my corporate clients, there just isn't time. Now to communicate with the world you have to do so many things.
So in addition to a blog, Here are all the things we have to do to try and get people to come to a show at the gallery:
1. Post the event on our web site.
2. Send out a couple email blasts.
3. Send out a press release, and ideally follow up to try and get some press.
4. Post the event on all the online calendars in town. There are currently 11 and growing everyday.
5. Post event to Facebook or create an event.
6. Post on Linked in.
7. Send out on Twitter.
8. For a BIG show, design mail and distribute a postcard (old school but necessary once in a while)
9. Make signage.
And this is just to get noticed. It doesn't count the endless hours of meeting with artists, writing copy, checking in art, lining up food and drink, blah, blah, blah.
So why the rambling. Because I would LOVE a suggestion on how to do this better, or it would be fabulous if we sold $10,000 on every opening night. Actually, the latter sounds better.
So art critics of the world, take note. Help us lowly galleries get more coverage so we can spend more time blogging about things like the post existential meaning of abstract expressionism instead of licking cyber stamps.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
The Self Portrait Show and the Artists behind it
We just launched our most successful show to date. "Inside Out - The Self Portrait Show". Opening night was Saturday March 12th. There were well over 300 people who came to see self portraits by 26 of the top regional artists. John Schuerman, a local self-taught artist curated the show. He assured me that there would be significant diversity of imagery in style, size and medium. He did not fail.
Having worked with thousands of artists over the past 25 years, I was curious as to what the final product would look like. One by one the artwork came in, the last piece showing up the day of the show. Considering that there are only 26 pieces in the show, there are 14 mediums represented. Acrylic, Photography, bronze, oil, pencil, etc. The most intriguing part is that only 7 of these 26 pieces actually have a "face" represented in them. Each artist is left to interpret and expose for us who they are as a person. To one artist, it may be a Jester raking a roof, to another a video of what YOU did 8 seconds ago (you have to come in to experience this one). The other challenge for the show is that the work must be for sale. A challenge to the artist to want to let go of a personal piece. A challenge for the art collector to want something so personal. The good news is that these are pieces you can fall in love with because they were done with passion by some of the most talented artists this city has produced. Please come in and experience it for yourself.
I only had met or ever worked with 2 of these 26 artists prior to this show. It has been an eye opener for me to be exposed to their work for the first time on such a personal level. I hope to work with many of them moving forward. This is such a crazy business. It is business but it is such a personal business. I have the privilege of engaging with thought provoking, passionate, creative, intellectual people on a daily basis and would not trade it for anything!
Stop in Monday thru Saturday 10-5 thru April 30th to experience for yourself
Greg Hennes
Having worked with thousands of artists over the past 25 years, I was curious as to what the final product would look like. One by one the artwork came in, the last piece showing up the day of the show. Considering that there are only 26 pieces in the show, there are 14 mediums represented. Acrylic, Photography, bronze, oil, pencil, etc. The most intriguing part is that only 7 of these 26 pieces actually have a "face" represented in them. Each artist is left to interpret and expose for us who they are as a person. To one artist, it may be a Jester raking a roof, to another a video of what YOU did 8 seconds ago (you have to come in to experience this one). The other challenge for the show is that the work must be for sale. A challenge to the artist to want to let go of a personal piece. A challenge for the art collector to want something so personal. The good news is that these are pieces you can fall in love with because they were done with passion by some of the most talented artists this city has produced. Please come in and experience it for yourself.
I only had met or ever worked with 2 of these 26 artists prior to this show. It has been an eye opener for me to be exposed to their work for the first time on such a personal level. I hope to work with many of them moving forward. This is such a crazy business. It is business but it is such a personal business. I have the privilege of engaging with thought provoking, passionate, creative, intellectual people on a daily basis and would not trade it for anything!
Stop in Monday thru Saturday 10-5 thru April 30th to experience for yourself
Greg Hennes
Sunday, January 2, 2011
"Art Stimulus Package for 2011 Announced"
OK Now that I got your attention, wouldn't that be a nice way to jump start 2011?
It has been a fascinating year of change on all fronts: Personal, Business, Economic and Government. What everyone in the arts community needs is for consumers to believe in the stability of the economy and be confident that we are in a slow steady growth out of "The Great Recession".
Everyone should take a look at that one ugly bare spot in their house or office and set out to make a change in 2011. Attend Galleries and Art Fairs and seek out that perfect piece. Also, dig out all those hidden gems from beneath the bed and get them framed. With 130 million households in the US and 5.6 million active businesses, there should be plenty of traffic for the few thousand art galleries in business today. This would trickle down not only to the artists, but to frame shops, picture frame supply manufacturers, etc.
So barring this blog getting the wheels turning on millions of home and business owners flocking to the galleries, maybe each household could receive a stimulus check, only valid in Art Galleries, for $250 towards the purchase of a piece of artwork. This $32 Billion incentive package is a fraction of what the government has spent bailing out every other industry. Last time I could source the number, the Art Market in the US was about $16 Billion annually. This incentive would more than double the annual revenue of the art industry.
I won't be sitting back waiting for my check, or the checks of others to come in the front door.
Happy New Year and hope to see you in the gallery soon!
Greg Hennes
It has been a fascinating year of change on all fronts: Personal, Business, Economic and Government. What everyone in the arts community needs is for consumers to believe in the stability of the economy and be confident that we are in a slow steady growth out of "The Great Recession".
Everyone should take a look at that one ugly bare spot in their house or office and set out to make a change in 2011. Attend Galleries and Art Fairs and seek out that perfect piece. Also, dig out all those hidden gems from beneath the bed and get them framed. With 130 million households in the US and 5.6 million active businesses, there should be plenty of traffic for the few thousand art galleries in business today. This would trickle down not only to the artists, but to frame shops, picture frame supply manufacturers, etc.
So barring this blog getting the wheels turning on millions of home and business owners flocking to the galleries, maybe each household could receive a stimulus check, only valid in Art Galleries, for $250 towards the purchase of a piece of artwork. This $32 Billion incentive package is a fraction of what the government has spent bailing out every other industry. Last time I could source the number, the Art Market in the US was about $16 Billion annually. This incentive would more than double the annual revenue of the art industry.
I won't be sitting back waiting for my check, or the checks of others to come in the front door.
Happy New Year and hope to see you in the gallery soon!
Greg Hennes
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