Re: Advice for finding a gallery.
Thanks for the wealth of info Christina. I had checked your website
and work after hearing about "Gum Printing" the other day. I'm really
interested with both your art and the process. I put an article on my
blog about your work and a link to your site.
I look forward to any more comments or additional advice, thanks again.
Ryan
On 10-Aug-08, at 8:24 AM, Christina Z. Anderson wrote:
Ohhhhh Ryan,
This is a $2000 question that lots of us photographers want the
answer to...
Are you an alt printer? Or some other genre? Because with alt you
need to be careful which venues to apply to. Large, digital color
works are au courant so do your research. I wasted money in the
beginning applying to shows that wouldn't even know what alt was.
I will give you my personal pointers but I know there are a bunch of
people on this list more well versed than I so they better chime in:
1. Establish a website presence if you haven't already; you can do
so through Visual Server (visualserver.com) because it is EASY and
clean.
2. Subscribe to Art Deadlines at artdeadline.com or if broke,
google "call for entries".
3. Start forking out the $$ to apply to shows to build up an
exhibition record and get your work out there over and above coffee
shops, although coffee shops are a great beginning to an exhibition
record. But with entry fees and framing expect it to be seriously
expensive.
4. Write a good, clean, spell-checked resume with this list of
exhibitions (in descending chronological order of course!) and put
exhibitions on your website so people know you actually can stay on
task. For instance, I found out from a reputable consultant that
teachers of photography are discriminated against in the gallery
world because galleries don't think teachers have enough time to
make work. I have enough time to make work--just not sleep or eat or
have a life... But I have enough time to email on the alt list :)
5. Galleries--start local, then regional, but as far as cold
calling and such, others on the list are way more knowledgeable on
this than I. I do not have gallery representation because (gasp) I
have not sought it...yet.
6. My biggest rule of thumb: ALWAYS have more than one iron in the
fire at any time so when (and I say WHEN) the rejection occurs, you
still have hope on the horizon. There are a couple horror stories I
have heard from this list--one gallery telling someone their work
was so bad they wouldn't waste their breath telling him/her why...
My six cents worth--looking forward to others' tips SOON???
Apparently most are enjoying their summer outside instead of at the
computer.
Chris
__________________
Christina Z. Anderson
http://christinaZanderson.com/
__________________
----- Original Message ----- From: "Ryan Thompson" <ryan@anteism.com>
To: <alt-photo-process-l@usask.ca>
Sent: Saturday, August 09, 2008 6:45 PM
Subject: Advice for finding a gallery.
Hello,
I'm new to this list and appreciate all the information that is
shared here. I've been into photography for 12 years now and have
compiled a large portfolio of photographs that I've shown in local
group art shows, cafes etc. I would like to try and take the next
step to find a fine art gallery that could showcase my work. It's
pretty intimidating.
Could anyone share general advice, process for approaching
galleries, book recommendations? I'd appreciate any advice you
could throw my way. If you know of any galleries that are having
group shows or other venues where I could send my work it would be
most appreciated.
Sincerely,
Ryan Thompson
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