Artist Etiquette: Working with a Gallery

Artists everywhere approach galleries regularly to display their works and galleries are happy to receive new and interesting work!  Unfortunately, many artists commit a variety of faux pas when presenting their works. Here are some dos and don’ts !

Always use archival materials. 
Galleries all have quality standards for the art they present for sale to the public. Avoid outdated  framing styles like the plague. If your work is framed in non-archival materials or with outdated materials, you are asking the gallery to stand behind something of inferior quality that may not last for years to come. Your clients are spending money and investing in your work. They are trusting the gallery to offer high quality products. If you don’t believe in your work enough to invest in high quality presentation materials, the gallery you approach won’t believe in you. 

Be sure your work is ready to hang.
Nothing is a bigger turnoff to a gallery manager than having to clean your piece prior to hanging.  Frames should not be dusty, glass should not be dirty….inside or out. Hanging hardware should be installed. Paper backing should be added when appropriate. If your work is three dimensional, please ensure it is clean before dropping it off.

Call ahead for an appointment. 
Prior to contrary belief, gallery managers do not sit at their desk all day long gazing at all the pretty work that surrounds them. They are VERY busy people. The typical day of a gallery manager involves assisting clients with a large variety of requests and questions, assorted paperwork, maintaining the gallery displays, soliciting artists for upcoming shows, preparing for shows, tearing down shows, preparing marketing materials, etc, etc, etc. The list goes on.  Please call ahead to schedule a time to meet with the manager. We love to meet new & talented artists….on our terms.

Do your homework. 
Is your work a fit for the gallery you are approaching? If you are a “modern” artist your work may not be suitable for a more traditional, representational gallery, no matter how good you are at your craft. Galleries know their market and cater to it.  If you’re not sure if you make a good fit, feel free to ask but don’t be discouraged by a “no.”  Most managers also know what other galleries in the area are carrying. Feel free to ask for a referral. Also, if your work is not up to the usual standards of the gallery, you may or may not get offered a spot.

Don’t get offended by gallery commission fees. 
Fifty percent is the standard commission rate at art galleries.  Galleries charge this much because they have bills…rent, electric, phone, salary, marketing and advertising costs, insurance, etc.  It is expensive to maintain a high quality, attractive gallery. You don’t give your work away for free. We don’t represent, market or sell your work for free.

Know that you are not the only artist being represented. 
Your work will not always have THE best spot in a gallery. Galleries try to rotate work fairly and consistently. Better selling artists will naturally have more/better exposure. They have earned this.

The best advice I can give you is "when in doubt, ask." Again, galleries are always looking for new and interesting artists....your questions shouldn't stand in your way of success.

It began as a good laugh about an old Monty Python sketch, “The Ministry of Silly Walks.”  It evolved into a fundraising event for the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. Eye Candy Gallery in downtown Southern Pines will be transformed into The Ministry of Silly Walks for an evening of hilarious hijinks on Saturday, May 12.

Starting at 7:30 pm, a panel of three“celebrity judges” will award points to anyone who stops by to show off a silly walk. There is a $5 entry fee to participate in the contest with all proceeds going to the Food Bank.  The gallery originally promised to “slap the winner with a herring” but then thought perhaps a small trophy and “Silliest Walk in Town” bragging rights would be more suitable!

“When we opened in October 2010,” says gallery owner Frank Pierce, “part of the concept for the gallery was to give back to the community whenever possible.” To date, Eye Candy Gallery has raised funds for the Moore County Pet Responsibility Committee and FirstHealth Hospice Foundation. 

Gallery manager Nancy Rawlinson made the decision to support the Food Bank with this event. “It is amazing to me that people go hungry in this day and age. The Food Bank is high in people’s minds during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons but there is a need for  food all year long .”  Rawlinson adds, “I want to raise the awareness about the continuous need  in our area.”

Sadly, hunger remains a serious problem in central and eastern North Carolina. Established in 1980, the Food Bank is a nonprofit organization that has provided food for people at risk of hunger in 34 counties for 30 years. The Sandhills Branch of the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina serves 4 counties in south central North Carolina. They are Lee, Moore, Richmond and Scotland counties. In the counties served by the Sandhills branch, over 36,000 individuals are at risk of hunger: 4,000 are children and over 11% are 65 years and over.

Last year over 4 million pounds of food was distributed to 98 agencies in those counties. The Food Bank at Sandhills operates two trucks that traveled over 37,000 miles last year. Volunteers donated over 3,100 hours of their time last year: equivalent to approximately two full-time employees.

Funds raised through this event will support programs in the Sandhills area. Ninety seven cents of every dollar donated to the Food Bank goes directly to help feed the hungry. In addition, each dollar donated to the Food Bank means the distribution of ten dollars worth of food.

The Silly Walk Contest will run from 7:30 pm until 9:30 pm at which time the “Master of Ceremonies” will crown the winner. If necessary, a silly “walk off” will break any tie scores. The gallery hopes that participants will harness their creativity for this fundraiser and demonstrate their silliest and most outrageous walks! Costumes are encouraged! Pre-registration is suggested but not required. To sign up, send an email to eyecandygallery@raleigh.twcbc.com.

Eye Candy Gallery & Wine Bar features local and regional artists. The gallery is located at 275 NE Broad St, Southern Pines, NC. Regular gallery hours are Tuesday through Thursday, 11 am-5pm; Friday and Saturday, 11am-6pm. For more information, please call (910) 246-2266 or visit the website at www.eye-candy-gallery.com.