tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post5280821560844779073..comments2024-03-03T15:01:00.402-05:00Comments on Joanne Mattera Art Blog: Marketing Mondays: "Educating the Public"Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-33003871360824919902012-05-27T11:47:25.452-04:002012-05-27T11:47:25.452-04:00Adding that Projects Gallery is in Philadelphia.Adding that Projects Gallery is in Philadelphia.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-75112209295731171382012-05-21T13:50:21.126-04:002012-05-21T13:50:21.126-04:00Amen, sister. As a gallerist, I always advise my ...Amen, sister. As a gallerist, I always advise my artists NOT to do open studios precisely because of all the the points already mentioned, but also because of one more. In my experience, most people go to an artist's studio for one of two reason...voyeurism or an expectation of discounted pricing. How many times have the artists heard,"Since I'm buying directly from you, do I get Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-24150894025424831132012-05-21T11:13:15.594-04:002012-05-21T11:13:15.594-04:00You always cover so many good points! Thanks for ...You always cover so many good points! Thanks for the work you do, educating us all.annell4https://www.blogger.com/profile/07629830133868270690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-11427245143037782492012-05-17T19:02:19.210-04:002012-05-17T19:02:19.210-04:00Joanne, your last remark reminds me of an artist h...Joanne, your last remark reminds me of an artist here. He had gallery representation but things were going slow and he didn't feel on their radar. But the artist was having a show in another town. So he had an event in his studio, showing the work to friends, local collectors and the dealer before sending it off. Lo and behold, collectors were interested and he got another show lined up in Evahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04526963554623770078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-43259836330473303172012-05-17T11:26:34.696-04:002012-05-17T11:26:34.696-04:00Good point, Elizabeth.
In my experience, artists ...Good point, Elizabeth.<br /><br />In my experience, artists will often open their studios privately. For instance, before Jackie Battenfield sent her solo show off to her gallery in Washington D.C., she held a private showing at her Brooklyn studio for her friends and colleagues. I thought it was a great way to get folks into see her "show." The point was not to sell--her gallery would Joanne Matterahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02564594823192456546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-84759682308103214482012-05-17T11:16:29.356-04:002012-05-17T11:16:29.356-04:00Great post. Is there such a thing as "privat...Great post. Is there such a thing as "private" open studios? I mean: where it is invitation only...or perhaps open only members of certain art associations can attend? This might ensure more visitors who are genuinely interested and respectful of the work. The goal is to have only visitors who are active in the art world, in whatever capacity. People who are just passing by with Elizabeth Kostojohnhttp://www.elizabethkostojohn.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-69407377494177742942012-05-16T12:51:03.759-04:002012-05-16T12:51:03.759-04:00Another great topic!
I participate in one city-w...Another great topic!<br /><br /> I participate in one city-wide open studio event event a year and that's enough for me. It is a lot of work and disruptive to the working process, however, the one we have here in Philly-the Philadelphia Open Studio Tours (POST) is a very well-organized and very well promoted event that attracts a lot of visitors to many studios. Of course, some artists do Tim McFarlanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03309424145625878126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-38612969753248623112012-05-16T09:33:13.949-04:002012-05-16T09:33:13.949-04:00Thanks, and yes, a college in Newport News, Va, is...Thanks, and yes, a college in Newport News, Va, is interested in the lecture, particularly the 19th c artists (Degas, Rosso) as my viewpoint (wax) is new to them. And you are right, staffing is always a problem with art centers, but I am disappointed in the lack of sufficient respect and support for those that teach there. Low salaries and long hours take a lot out of such employees (having been skahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12477283549206516708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-40552008321300560022012-05-15T13:23:55.715-04:002012-05-15T13:23:55.715-04:00Thanks, everyone for your comments. I appreciate h...Thanks, everyone for your comments. I appreciate hearing from you.<br /><br />As Leslie points out, open studios can be a real financial boon to artists in a less than stellar economy. And as Ravenna points out, an open studio event can have good results if the artist goes into it with a specific intent; for Ravenna it was to connect with others in her creative community. <br /><br />On the otherJoanne Matterahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02564594823192456546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-61707762889005542022012-05-15T12:30:48.853-04:002012-05-15T12:30:48.853-04:00You do know how to open a can of worms, Joanne. B...You do know how to open a can of worms, Joanne. But it sure makes me question what art centers ask me to do. I have a small studio in an art center that is reasonable in price, and that I hoped would serve as a way to gain students and a place to show work to prospective buyers -- and to make myself more visible in my community and to the art center, as I dont have a commercial gallery and no skahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12477283549206516708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-954060076678121172012-05-15T12:07:31.124-04:002012-05-15T12:07:31.124-04:00I agree with your statement in part, but not total...I agree with your statement in part, but not totally. You said, "If you're an artist, your job is to make the art, to find a venue in which to show it if you don't have a gallery, and to create interest in getting folks in to see it." It is really the role of gallery (or museum for that matter) to promote the exhibition. Artists should work with the institution/gallery to Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-42873390273422705212012-05-15T11:57:29.088-04:002012-05-15T11:57:29.088-04:00I could not agree more. Fresh out of art school in...I could not agree more. Fresh out of art school in San Francisco, I took a space at Hunters Point Shipyard, where Open Studio was a big event -- some people ONLY rented their studio, all year round, for the opportunity to open it on two days to the public. With lots of organized PR, over 10,000 would come through the complex, which housed studios for a few hundred artists. I did it for several Ravenna Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11870831212657666842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-70040003798255238762012-05-15T09:43:23.916-04:002012-05-15T09:43:23.916-04:00Boulder, Colorado has a huge open studios event ev...Boulder, Colorado has a huge open studios event every year with over 160 artists. There are no art galleries in Boulder... the population here, even though they are high income households, has become used to getting art super cheap during open studios. It has totally devalued art in Boulder when you can get a 7 foot tall acrylic painting for $300, to match your couch. <br /><br />I did do open ruth hillerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14272283137923045723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-18643530893485365492012-05-15T09:15:19.267-04:002012-05-15T09:15:19.267-04:00I rented a space in an open studio set up where th...I rented a space in an open studio set up where the public was encouraged to stop in and see artists at work, and, hopefully purchase art. It was impossible to work there...the fishbowl is not conducive to creativity. But the worst part was the painfully ignorant comments from much of the public who wandered through and the encouragement (not very subtle) from the owners of the business, that we Peg Gradyhttp://www.peggradyart.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-73757245805336871242012-05-14T21:13:13.110-04:002012-05-14T21:13:13.110-04:00Every other year for the last six years we have ha...Every other year for the last six years we have had an Open Studio Tour for between 12-15 professional artists in rural upstate New York. For each of those events the artist collectively sold between 50,000-70,000 over the two day weekend. Some sell better than others, but we make it very clear that this is a sales opportunity, not a demo-event. These sales have developed collectors and after Lesliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15076340097194853112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-43466416778218317522012-05-14T19:19:15.707-04:002012-05-14T19:19:15.707-04:00Great post. I worked on an open door committee fo...Great post. I worked on an open door committee for 3 years. <br />And, also opened my studio for 3 years. Yikes. What a futile, disruptive experience. I had to groom my backyard which leads to my studio, remove my dogs out of their home and yard for 2 days - each year, demo and explain my technique. I have never sold anything at an open studio tour.<br />bah humbug. at least my opinionAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03652589633460854598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-88328902279415464072012-05-14T13:13:43.221-04:002012-05-14T13:13:43.221-04:00Last year at open studios a viewer took one look a...Last year at open studios a viewer took one look at my "Dog Fight" print and gave me this despising look and said "dog fights are horrible!" As if my representation was an endorsement.<br />I would gladly have explained that yes, that is exactly why I CHOSE the subject, and how it related to my concepts, but the woman was gone.<br /><br />Open Studios are a culture gift to Emilyhttp://www.emilycobb.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-65184932662758382432012-05-14T12:20:16.148-04:002012-05-14T12:20:16.148-04:00I so agree with Nancy Natale. Opening one's s...I so agree with Nancy Natale. Opening one's studio is a lot of work and disruptive to art making. Recently I had two people who really admired my work at AAF visit my studio. They spent a long time to find fault with every piece I showed them such as "too expensive", "too dark", "too fragile" etc etc. In the end there was no sale and I felt they were just Suejin Johttp://suejinjo.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-45892338041667581222012-05-14T11:01:48.429-04:002012-05-14T11:01:48.429-04:00Thanks for the permission to continue NOT doing Op...Thanks for the permission to continue NOT doing Open Studios! I've never been able to articulate what it is that I find distasteful about it - something about invading my space, or being on display as an Artist, a separate species of worker. I do have workshops and books to sell, but largely not to the local public. My time is better spent sharing what I do on my blog and web site, on my Jane Davieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06062718110759969682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-87718155593405011152012-05-14T10:47:55.071-04:002012-05-14T10:47:55.071-04:00Whew—what a topic. I am an artist with feet in bot...Whew—what a topic. I am an artist with feet in both places. In the past, I have done 3 demos, two for pay and one free. It is a huge time suck and not worth the tiny pay... I'm so done with that.<br /><br />Thanks to your blog and sound business mindedness, I have given up doing donations and demos (except at a venue that is a win-win, like the International encaustic conference, thank-you!)<Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com