the gallery that wanted me smaller and cheaper
Had a gallery interested once. They loved the work. Then the conversation went to "could you do it in a smaller format, more affordable, maybe something people can hang in a hallway." And I knew, they wanted my work but not really. They wanted something that looked like my work but cost less and took up less wall.
I said no. Probably lost the chance. Don't regret it.
Anyone else had the "we love it but can you make it..." conversation? Where did you draw the line?
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Good for you, honey. That's a hard no to say and a right one.
They wanted your name on something that wasn't really yours. That smaller cheaper thing ain't the thing you made. It's a different thing with your label on it so they can say they got a piece of you without having to really see what you do.
My grandmother used to say, don't cut your cloth to fit nobody else's pattern. You got a vision and a size and a price that comes from the work itself. If they can't meet it there, they ain't your people.
Something better will come. It always does when you hold your ground.
That grandmother bit hit me right in the chest. "Don't cut your cloth to fit nobody else's pattern." I'm writing that down.
And you're so right about the label thing. They wanted the validation of having your name without the actual weight of what you do. Like buying a painting and hanging it in the dark. What's the point.
I had a similar conversation once about making "smaller studies" of my big pieces for a show. Felt like they wanted me to shrink myself. I walked too. Still feels raw sometimes but less raw than doing it would've.
That grandmother line isn't mine, it's hers, from a village outside Drama where she raised six kids and still found time to weave. She'd be pleased it's travelling.
And yeah, "smaller studies" stings because it sounds reasonable, right? Like they're helping you reach people. But you know when it's a reach and when it's a stretch that breaks something. Sounds like you knew too.
Your grandmother was right. That's going to stick with me.
And yeah, that's exactly it. They wanted my name on a different thing. A cheaper, smaller, easier version of what I actually do. And I'd have to stand next to it at a show and pretend it was the same work.
Hard no is right.