1 week Ago
Hints of summer are appearing in vibrant bursts of color from flowers to leafing trees. Dining alfresco and gallery and museum hopping are coming into season. Canyon Road Summer Walks, starting June 4, are on the calendar, as is the seasonal opening of Origami in the Garden on May 5, which displays gigantic metal origami sculptures set in the Garden of the Gods on the Turquoise Trail south of Santa Fe.
All this upcoming visual stimulation reminded me of my guide on “artiquette.” Revisit my tips on handling galleries with grace and practicing your museum manners. An art gallery is a retail space representing a group of artists, specific mediums or a solo artist.
A studio visit is a destination to the artist’s workspace, often booked in advance or discovered during a regional tour. It provides an opportunity to speak with the artist directly. I spoke with abstract oil painter Karine Swenson, who hosts her work on the annual Turquoise Trail Studio Tour, about how to have a successful visit.
Research the artists in advance to select mediums that appeal to you. A personal and creative space, a studio is sometimes attached to an artist’s residence, but the experience is a professional one. Treat the space like you would a museum by not wandering into the private quarters.
Try not to dominate conversation when streams of visitors are walking through. Hosts will often have refreshments available and offer a washroom, since many tours are rural, all-day affairs. Art can be intimidating and hard to translate.
“There’s nothing wrong with not knowing what you are looking at,” says Swenson. “First of all, the best thing to remember is that not everyone will appreciate or like the same thing. Finding out what compelled an artist to do something can help you appreciate it more.
” But be mindful of your comments, Swenson advises. “The artist may be standing right there. Sometimes, even in a gallery, the artist is present.
If you are looking at their work, take just a moment to realize that while you may not enjoy what they do, it is probably really important to them. It represents their time, their creative impulse, a bit of their soul and their money. Making art can be expensive.
” Swenson adds, “Creating enough work for a solo show or a studio tour show is no small accomplishment.” Whether it appeals or not, consider asking questions about the process and materials, which can be illuminating. On the subject of discounts, Swenson shares, “There seems to be some notion that art is always overpriced.
If you are dealing with a gallery, the artist and gallery split that price, usually 50/50. If you are in an artist’s studio, oftentimes the artist may have a relationship with one or two galleries. If that is the case, the gallery/artist agreement prevents the artist from discounting work for a substantially lower price.
” She adds, “When an artist goes to buy canvas, paint, bronze, clay, stone or other tools, we don’t get a discount. We usually have to cover the costs of not just materials, but also shipping, framing, photography and more before the art is even seen by people. It all adds up.
” It’s important to ask if you can take pictures and for what purpose. If the artist allows for pictures, make sure to give credit if you post on social media. Beauty is often in the eye of the beholder.
“The best advice for experiencing art in a gallery or artist’s studio is simply to appreciate the art the way you might appreciate a cloud in the sky,” recommends Swenson. “You can simply look at it without judgment.”.
