March 18, 2011
NYC
Elevation 80m
Two weeks ago I had an solo exhibit open in a Manhattan gallery, hous projects. The weeks leading up to it was hectic to say the least. I was in the middle of a website redesign (check out the new site here) and I wanted to make sure that it was complete in time for the opening. Not to mention actually preparing the prints, matting and framing the images and etc etc etc.
Opening night for any artist is one of high excitement and raw nerves. Opening night for a solo exhibition in NYC during Armory week has it own set of pressure and more.
It can be hard talk to strangers, it can be a challenge to talk about your work and I for one have a hard time receiving compliments.
What is an artist to do?
I like to think of my role during opening night as that of a gracious hostess. I meet, greet, make small talk and make sure that everyone is having a good time. I say hello, let the guest know where the bar is, I often walk them over and get them a drink myself. As I am walking through the room, I make sure that I round back upon the same guests I greeted earlier, now that they have had some time to look at the work, and I ask them if they have a favorite.
I like to know which images are appealing to what type of audience especially given that Wok The Dog is such a large body of work. This is an easy way of doing a little survey on what your best sellers might be. It is also a great conversation starter as you ease you way into an easy chat about the work. You have just promoted your guest to have an opinion and what’s more, that you care of about what he or she thinks.
I make rounds through out the gallery and I make introductions of people who I think would enjoy knowing one another. Making introductions of your guests to one another is an effective technique in making sure that everyone has a good time and stays at the opening a little bit longer. Too often you attend openings where you barely know anyone and after a while, it just gets awkward and so you leave for a drink else where.
I also like to make arrangements before hand with my friends to have a drink else where after the opening. Your friends and family love you and want to support you. But you can’t stay with them all night and only talk to them. Having another event later where you can relax with friends and celebrate is helpful in shifting your mindset and make sure that you don’t feel like you are neglecting those who loves you.
The opening for “Sustain” was a great success. The show is up through April 16th at hous projects in SoHo.
If you are in NYC between now and then, drop me a line and I will be glad to meet you down at the gallery and show you the show myself.
If you found this post to be either “inspiring, educational, or entertaining” I would be very grateful if you could take a moment to share it on Twitter or Facebook, or maybe just email it to your best art buddy.
If you do this, there is a 98% chance that you are awesome.
Wonderful tips, Charlie. Very important to make the most of the occasion and I think you’ve got a great strategy.
Thanks so much Carrie. I thought it was good to share some insight on how I handle my art openings as I encounter many artists who doesn’t seem to know what they are supposed to do at their openings other than to talk to their friends.
Please RT if your friends would find this entry to be helpful!
Oh, how I wish I’d read this or thought of the post-show drink with friends many years ago when I had my first show! They felt ignored during the event and we all went home separately, feeling slighted and deflated. Live/learn, right?
As long as you learn, then I think its all good. That is all we can do. We all f-up here and there. Next time, you will do better! 🙂
congrats on the show i’ll make sure to stop by. this post reminded me of a book “I like your work: Art and Etiquette”. It was a series of interviews with artists, curators, and critics on manners in the art world. You might dig it.
The show at housprojects ended in April. The next show up is Sept 8th, Flesh and Bone as part of 6×6.
Check out http://www.baangandburne.com for for details.
I tweeted this out as I thought other artists would find some benefit from the post and more about what to do at their art openings.
Come to the Sept show if you can. Love to have you there.
Thank you for the fabulous tips on maximizing the opportunities to connect with people at your opening. Will note and use ’em.
Thanks! We are up for another opening next week. There will be another wrap up and more on what to do at your openings!
As I was going through the Flickr set for your latest exhibition, I had asked myself the same questions you answer in this post. How does one go about hosting an exhibition? What are the do’s and do not’s? “Flesh and Bone” looked like a success on opening night!
Thanks a lot for the great article and tips Charlie. The tip about making introductions of people who I think would enjoy knowing one another is interesting. I’ve never thought of doing that. I’ll have to try this one.