the gallery opening that made me want to take my paintings off the wall
My first real gallery show, maybe ten years ago. I walk in and they've hung my still life under a spotlight so hot and close the varnish is practically sweating. The frame's casting a shadow across half the painting. I stood there thinking, this is where my work lives now, and I have no say in it.
What's the worst thing a gallery ever did to your work in their space? Framing disasters, lighting crimes, hanging your 40x60 in the bathroom hallway, I want to hear it.
3
4commentsSaveFollow threadShare
I had a piece in a group show years ago where they hung it next to the fire exit door. Every time someone went in or out the whole wall shook. Not dramatic but it bothered me more than I expected, all that stillness in the work and it's vibrating every few minutes. I should have said something but you don't want to be that artist on opening night.
the vibration thing would drive me crazy too. i had a small piece in a show once where they put it directly above a radiator. came back at the end of the run and the paper had warped, just a permanent wave through the middle. nobody noticed but me but i still think about it.
The radiator one makes me feel ill just imagining it. Paper especially, you put all that work into getting it flat and then it just... remembers. Of course nobody noticed. They never do with these things. But you know. That's the worst part somehow, carrying it alone.
The vibration thing would get to me too. A painting wants to sit still, that's half the point of it. And you're right, you never want to be that person on opening night, so you stand there and watch your work tremble and say nothing. I've done that dance.