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Post by gildoinc on Dec 3, 2009 10:59:00 GMT -8
I hope this doesn't offend anyone, but I thought the board could use a WTF art edition thread. It seems appropriate to have this thread when works are going missing, Stallone is selling work for $40K + and some galleries use shady practices to make a profit.
I recently got a preview from a gallery for an artist whose work I collect extensively. The preview was for an upcoming show of new work. Once I opened the document I was shocked to find that 3 pieces that are hanging on my wall were featured as available (I did not even buy the pieces from this gallery). When I wrote the gallery back and stated that these piece were in my possession and not available, they wrote back saying that the pieces were some of the best examples of the artists work and that they used them to generate traffic for the show. WTF.
(I'm not going to name the gallery since I have bought other work from them but the email I received was just shocking and wrong.
The gallery was not in New York or Los Angeles.)
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Post by stingers on Dec 3, 2009 11:07:09 GMT -8
Haha, they have got some front doing that .
"Stoners Pot Palace" Otto : "Man , that is flagrant false advertising .
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Post by steveinca on Dec 3, 2009 13:18:38 GMT -8
I recently got a preview from a gallery for an artist whose work I collect extensively. The preview was for an upcoming show of new work. Once I opened the document I was shocked to find that 3 pieces that are hanging on my wall were featured as available (I did not even buy the pieces from this gallery). When I wrote the gallery back and stated that these piece were in my possession and not available, they wrote back saying that the pieces were some of the best examples of the artists work and that they used them to generate traffic for the show. WTF. (I'm not going to name the gallery since I have bought other work from them but the email I received was just shocking and wrong. The gallery was not in New York or Los Angeles.) what artist are you speaking of?? |
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Post by jemappellekat on Dec 4, 2009 2:48:12 GMT -8
^I am also curious...
Here's what I hope is a good example worthy of a "WTF"...
I recently found out that someone is possibly selling unauthorized re-prints of prints... I need to verify before I openly go forth with this accusation, but the run numbers, eBay auctions, and other factors just don't add up.
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Post by gildoinc on Dec 4, 2009 10:34:12 GMT -8
Here's what I hope is a good example worthy of a "WTF"... I recently found out that someone is possibly selling unauthorized re-prints of prints... I need to verify before I openly go forth with this accusation, but the run numbers, eBay auctions, and other factors just don't add up. Definitely worthy of WTF. I'll post some of my collection shortly. Obviously, if I name the artist now I might as well have named the gallery. But I would like to share with the board some of my gems. I was just completely shocked that my pieces would be included in the show's preview - it's not like when people go to the gallery to see the show those pieces are going to be up on the wall so why even bother to say they are available. |
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Post by steveinca on Dec 4, 2009 14:50:54 GMT -8
Here's what I hope is a good example worthy of a "WTF"... I recently found out that someone is possibly selling unauthorized re-prints of prints... I need to verify before I openly go forth with this accusation, but the run numbers, eBay auctions, and other factors just don't add up. Definitely worthy of WTF. I'll post some of my collection shortly. Obviously, if I name the artist now I might as well have named the gallery. But I would like to share with the board some of my gems. I was just completely shocked that my pieces would be included in the show's preview - it's not like when people go to the gallery to see the show those pieces are going to be up on the wall so why even bother to say they are available. Great point. I have to disagree with you when you say you'd rather not say what gallery it is. I think we all should have each other's backs, and not protect galleries at the expense of forum members and collectors. If a gallery is shady and using questionable tactics to promote shows and sell work, i think we should all be aware of the details. I do see where you're coming from, not wanting to out the gallery because you feel it's in poor taste. But, again, we need to have each other's backs more so than protecting galleries that are shady. My humble opinion. |
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Post by richardtharbaugh on Dec 4, 2009 15:42:32 GMT -8
"I'm not going to name the gallery since I have bought other work from them but the email I received was just shocking and wrong.
The gallery was not in New York or Los Angeles."
So, you think the gallery is using shady practices, but you won't say who? Just that they're not in LA or NY, so people can speculate who it is and choose their own suspects? Usually that's rooted in a thought process that goes something like, "well, I think this place is shady, but I'm in good there, and I plan to keep supporting this shady place with my hard earned money - so, I won't say anything critical of them."
WTF?
"I recently found out that someone is possibly selling unauthorized re-prints of prints... I need to verify before I openly go forth with this accusation, but the run numbers, eBay auctions, and other factors just don't add up. "
So, basically, you've found out that you have a suspicion. If it's true, then people should know about it. Til then...
WTF?
"Great point. I have to disagree with you when you say you'd rather not say what gallery it is. I think we all should have each other's backs, and not protect galleries at the expense of forum members and collectors. If a gallery is shady and using questionable tactics to promote shows and sell work, i think we should all be aware of the details. I do see where you're coming from, not wanting to out the gallery because you feel it's in poor taste. But, again, we need to have each other's backs more so than protecting galleries that are shady. My humble opinion. "
Hey, that kinda makes sense!
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Post by jemappellekat on Dec 4, 2009 16:23:27 GMT -8
A suspicion is something that I have... and if I am wrong at least I will have that. But if I do point fingers at this stage and out people w/o tangible proof, then I run the risk of not only damaging reputations, but lawsuits. So while I value your opinion, at the end of the day I need to watch my back.
Besides, it's not a gallery. It is a person, that I am suspicious of. They are "in the business" but there is no brick and mortar space involved.
Ever wonder why the same "limited prints" keep popping up on eBay? And why they seem to actually sell based on the sellers feedback? How do the supply of these "limited prints" replenish so fast? Or did 20 people decide to offload the same one in a month period?
I thought that this WTF thread was created to vent. My bad.
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Post by gildoinc on Dec 4, 2009 22:29:12 GMT -8
Steve, I totally see your point, but if I outed the gallery all I would be doing is hurting an artist who had nothing to do with the preview the gallery sent out. At the end of the day, the gallery priced the works right, they had good communication, etc - they were just guilty of doing something stupid - a WTF type of thing. If I really thought that any board members would be taken advantage of, I would definitely name them.
My only intention with the thread is to serve as central place to vent. If someone does something to threaten or harm our community it probably deserves it own thread/conversation.
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Post by steveinca on Dec 5, 2009 1:59:41 GMT -8
Steve, I totally see your point, but if I outed the gallery all I would be doing is hurting an artist who had nothing to do with the preview the gallery sent out. At the end of the day, the gallery priced the works right, they had good communication, etc - they were just guilty of doing something stupid - a WTF type of thing. If I really thought that any board members would be taken advantage of, I would definitely name them. My only intention with the thread is to serve as central place to vent. If someone does something to threaten or harm our community it probably deserves it own thread/conversation. All good my friend  . Vent on  . |
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Post by sbgallery on Dec 15, 2009 19:16:50 GMT -8
By all accounts, the smallest booth space you can get at Aqua or Scope is (so I've been told) upwards of $25K. So why, pray tell, would the people running these booths during Art Basel feel the need to ignore the potential buyers who are walking in and out of the booth? My girlfriend and I managed to visit quite a few gallery booths without ever being spoken to. We got irritated by this, and started snapping pictures of what people were doing instead of talking to buyers. Facebook. Twitter. Reading newspapers. And one guy was actually shopping online for cars. I didn't buy a single thing at Art Basel. Screw 'em. www.flickr.com/photos/stevebrowngallery/sets/72157622864810669/ |
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Post by Weekender on Dec 16, 2009 3:30:09 GMT -8
Very interesting set of pictures you've got over flicker sb! Irritating how the people manning the booths can actually ignore potential buyers!  |
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Post by jemappellekat on Dec 16, 2009 4:34:03 GMT -8
By all accounts, the smallest booth space you can get at Aqua or Scope is (so I've been told) upwards of $25K. So why, pray tell, would the people running these booths during Art Basel feel the need to ignore the potential buyers who are walking in and out of the booth? My girlfriend and I managed to visit quite a few gallery booths without ever being spoken to. We got irritated by this, and started snapping pictures of what people were doing instead of talking to buyers. Facebook. Twitter. Reading newspapers. And one guy was actually shopping online for cars. I didn't buy a single thing at Art Basel. Screw 'em. www.flickr.com/photos/stevebrowngallery/sets/72157622864810669/You just made me laugh... it's unfortunate, but yeah... But hey - at least you saved $$$$$$$ this year... Thanks for entertaining us... |
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Post by sbgallery on Dec 16, 2009 10:49:00 GMT -8
Since posting those pics on Flickr, by the way, I've gotten over a dozen requests for a blog called "Being Ignored By Art Dealers". It's disheartening to hear how insanely widespread this is. So, I started a Flickr pool for anyone else who wants to snap pictures of art dealers ignoring them. Here's hoping some of them take notice. www.flickr.com/groups/1273753@N24/pool/------ Maybe I just try harder because I'm very small-time. I only represent a couple of artists, and I'm fairly new to the scene. Maybe some of these larger galleries just count on buyers coming to them, maybe it's a negotiating tactic, maybe it's just the old way of doing things. I honestly don't know. But I do know that if I'm standing in a gallery to purchase a painting and I can't get someone to actually talk to me and take my money, I'm not buying that painting. Or anything else from that gallery. Current estimated savings from this occurence is approximately $15k. |
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Post by gildoinc on Dec 16, 2009 11:13:48 GMT -8
Since posting those pics on Flickr, by the way, I've gotten over a dozen requests for a blog called "Being Ignored By Art Dealers". It's disheartening to hear how insanely widespread this is. The only person I'd give a break to is the guy shopping for a car. Maybe he sold so many spinning cakes that he finally could get that car he's been holding out for. . . It's a great post and I definitely enjoyed your pics. It's funny and it's not funny at the same time. Luckily there is no shortage of incredible art to spend your money on and galleries that do appreciate your business. |
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Post by sbgallery on Dec 16, 2009 13:29:18 GMT -8
Luckily there is no shortage of incredible art to spend your money on and galleries that do appreciate your business. Exalted for that. Also excited to see more artists selling direct to collectors. Galleries will step up their game when artist take back control of the way their work is represented. Dan May & Jason Limon (most notably and recently) moving in that direction is exciting and encouraging to me. |
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Post by Weekender on Dec 16, 2009 15:37:31 GMT -8
Since posting those pics on Flickr, by the way, I've gotten over a dozen requests for a blog called "Being Ignored By Art Dealers". It's disheartening to hear how insanely widespread this is. The only person I'd give a break to is the guy shopping for a car. Maybe he sold so many spinning cakes that he finally could get that car he's been holding out for. . . It's a great post and I definitely enjoyed your pics. It's funny and it's not funny at the same time. Luckily there is no shortage of incredible art to spend your money on and galleries that do appreciate your business. I never knew spinning cakes are so much in demand! ;D. Maybe its the new thing......! On a serious note, acquiring art should be a good experience and its disheartening, even more, discouraging if people manning the galleries wont put effort to assist you along the way! |
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Post by epicfai on Jan 15, 2010 11:39:20 GMT -8
never buy art from anyone that subscibes to the WSJ! |
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. Vent on 
.
