I once walked into a "gallery" that was really a framing shop with a few things on the wall. They wanted 50% and I had to deliver everything framed myself. I said no and the woman acted like I was the unreasonable one.
What's the most confusing gallery experience you've had, the one where you weren't sure if you were talking to a gallerist or something else entirely?
Ah sure I've a good one. Years back, before I had any real idea what I was doing, I got an email from a "gallery" down the country sounding very interested in my prints. Woman was lovely on the phone, talked a big game about wanting to "champion local printmakers." So I drove two hours down with a portfolio of linocuts, framed the best ones, the whole lot.
Got there and it was a curtain shop. Like, nets and blinds and that. She'd hung maybe six paintings between the rolls of fabric. Looked at my work, said "lovely, lovely," and then spent twenty minutes trying to sell me curtains for my own house. I left with a swatch book I never asked for and no exhibition.
You've just got to laugh. Some of these places haven't a notion what a gallery is, they think it's just a word for "wall with stuff on it." I'd rather sell at the market half the time. At least the people there know they're buying art, not getting upsold a valance.
A curtain shop. That's absolutely magnificent. I'd have walked in and thought I'd taken a wrong turn somewhere.
Did she at least give you a good price on some nice drapes? I feel like there's a negotiation to be had there, I'll let you hang my linocuts if you let me do your windows in a nice pleated roman.
oh man. i had one that was basically some rich guy's hobby room. he had a "gallery" in a strip mall, wanted to show my work, got all excited about it. went to meet him and it was just... his personal art collection on the walls and a desk in the corner. no price list, no lighting, no system. he kept calling himself a curator. i was like... you framed some stuff you liked and hung it up, that's not the same thing.
the 50% AND you frame it yourself is next level though. that's just someone who saw other galleries doing it and thought they'd try without doing any of the actual work. good for you walking.
The hobby room thing, I've seen that too. A man with a bit of money and a wall he was tired of looking at, suddenly he's a "curator." No systems, no audience, no idea what consignment even means. And they always act wounded when you don't fall over yourself with gratitude.
The framing shop woman honestly believed she was doing me a favour. Like, you want half my labour and I also pay for the frame? For what, exactly? Your stamp of approval? Bof.