The Big Show

The Big Show

So my first big group show was at Magnan Projects on June 29^th. Magnan Projects is an emerging artist’s gallery in North Chelsea at 10^th Avenue near 27^th street. I showed “Froot Loop Chuck” there, to amazing response. I am excited to see what comes of this show, some press would be nice or some more exposure in future shows. I will not go into each encounter I had with people I met at the opening, but I will say again that the response was amazing. For those interested in seeing the show, it is up until August 5^th, visit http://www.magnanprojects.com. For more information.

My target audience with this blog is other emerging artists, or those interested in what happens behind my work, so let me relate a couple of things I learned in this opening:

-Self-promotion in a group show is frowned upon. This I learned the hard way. I was excited to display my Froot Loop Chuck and sent out a separate mailer. Hopefully it brought more people to the opening, however others involved with the show did not meet my self-promotion with a good response. There is a strange collision of motives when it comes to selling artwork. The artist, especially an emerging artist, is hungry for exposure. The curator wants things to flow smoothly, with as little conflict as possible. The gallery wants sells and wants promotion of the gallery. I see where what I did was justified under my motives, however I also see how it was viewed as bull-headed by those around me, by those who’s motives differ. If you just have to send out your own mailer for a group opening, and not heed my warning, be sure you put a return address on it. Otherwise, returned postcards will be sent to the gallery.

-Don’t drink too much at your own opening. This sounds funny but its all too common. I knew this lesson going into he opening and made it a point to not drink a drop of alcohol until the after party (where I drank way too much). It is funny how many times I have seen drunken artists at openings. It is important to be on point during an opening, because you may end up talking to potential clients, so the rule I follow (told to me by Brian Rutenberg) is no more than one drink an hour until after the opening. My new lesson is not to drink too much during the after party either. I’m learning as I go, but I think in future openings I will leave the after party early and, with a selected group of friends, begin drinking. Being so full of nervous energy for so long does not mix with alcohol well, and it is best to embarrass yourself in front of your friends than in front of your business partners.

I am not sure when the next show will be, but I plan a lot of promotion in the coming weeks and I hope that this current show will generate some attention. I will be sure to post my new promotion plans soon.