J.T. Kirkland is having a one-man art fair this week in NYC - see details here on his blog. His work is really good and is much better in person than in online reproductions so I encourage people to go see it.
When I first heard his scheme - to put up a show in a swanky hotel room he's in all week for work - I thought it was a great idea in the abstract. Roger and I did something similar at a cabin north of Montreal a few years back, but that's a story I'll save for a later post. I like the idea of taking charge and saying screw it and just doing something. Some pals and I considered having some kind of crazy salon art show here at my house - maybe I'll try to float that again...
I was a little concerned that it might seem a little desperate or gimmicky and that J.T.'s work, which is very minimal and really needs good hanging and lighting, might not work in a plan like this. A crazy drawing guy - sure, scribble everywhere, but minimal, clean wood pieces?
I'll have to see installation shots to see if he pulls it off, but I do know he's a real hard-ass about hanging and he wouldn't do it if he didn't think he could make his work look really great.
As for the desperate part, I asked both the Director of a really good non-profit space and an artist who is having a meteoric career about this whole thing and they both said it isn't desperate at all, but actually shows balls. So go kick some ass J.T. Maybe next year we can rent a room in Miami and have a 2-person art fair there...
2 comments:
I'll respond in more detail (maybe...) after this is all done, but I'll say this much. The main reason I am doing this is because I've had a lot of interest in my work from people in NYC. But they've all seen the work only in jpegs. I was asked recently if I could bring a piece up for a former gallery director (of a nice Chelsea space) and current curator to see in person. I said yeah, how about 40? He loved the idea and said I would be an idiot not to do it. He's coming and he's bringing the "right" people with him. I'm not an idiot. I hope.
Desperate? Nah... just doing what it takes.
Thanks for the words of encouragement... work goes up tonight. Lighting will be poor, but the work will look better than sitting on my studio floor being looked at by, well, just me.
Thats what the folks I asked said too - doing what it takes, and it makes even more sense with the kind of nibbles you've had already. Your work looks so good in person I think this will be a big step for you.
In a way the lighting might be ok - the work will be seen in a sort of natural, home-like habitat...
Good luck man!
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