Collecting And Displaying Art

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What type of art do you like?  Modern, impressionistic, mixed media, photography, sculpture, etc.  Most of our gallery visitors are a bit stumped by that question.

Michael Cutlip: Recycled 24 x 24 Mixed on Panel

A blank look tends to waif over their faces when asked the question.  Most gallery visitors unfortunately are looking for a piece to compliment their interior décor.  Does it match the paint in the bedroom?  Would it fit perfectly above the fireplace mantle?  It’s too small, or it’s too big may follow the comment about matching colors to the wall.  Price is always a consideration, and for some price is equated with the size of the artwork.  Some consumers equate price of an art piece to the size of the work.  Larger pieces cost more, while smaller ones cost less.  At his point we’re ready to pull our hair out.  In my opinion the best way to buy art is to buy what you like when you see it for the first time.  Your instinct will never fail you.

We’re always delighted when a collector visits.  Collectors are looking at the artwork.  They appreciate the work and effort that goes into creating the piece.

Carl Wilen: Dreams For Sale 14.5 x 15 oil painting

They normally do not buy to match the color of a wall, or to find something that fits the wall they are trying to over.  Collectors follow an artist or gallery, and look for something they can appreciate and intrinsically value.  Showcasing the artwork is the last thing on their minds.  They may have the homes or offices that allow for creating a gallery experience, or they may just hang artwork on every conceivable flat surface in their living space.  It’s not so much about the presentation, but showcasing the variety of work they love to collect to anyone that visits them.  Art is to be shown and appreciated, no matter how you like to hang it.  Keep that in mind the next time you visit us.

Photographer Dulce Pinzon

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Occasionally we come across an individual whose personal art transcends beauty and creates a commentary on society.  Dulce Pinzon is such an artist.  ZIA is excited about presenting her work and vision to our gallery friends.  Her last personal project focused on the plight of Hispanics working in the U.S.  Her use of costumed super heroes brings attention to the difficult working conditions these individuals face on a daily basis.  This personal project resonated with collectors who quickly snapped up her work.  This project is sold out.  Ms. Pinzon is a photographer whose work has appeared in numerous magazines and newspapers, including
Esopus, Marie Claire (South Africa and Thailand editions), Mother Jones, 
Rolling Stone (Italian edition), Vice, The New York Times, The Guardian, The
Washington Post, La Jornada (Mexico), Reforma (Mexico), and El País (Spain).  Her work has been exhibited published, and collected internationally. 
In 2001, her photos were used for the cover of La otra historia de los
Estados Unidos, the Spanish-language edition of Howard Zinn’s A People’s
History of the United States. In 2002 she was awarded the prestigious
Mexican Jóvenes Creadores grant. In 2004 she won first prize in the
two-dimensional category at the fourth Encuentro Estatal de Arte
Contemporáneo in Puebla. In 2006 she won first prize at the 12th Photography
Biennial of the Centro de la Imagen in Mexico City.  In 2009 Ms. Pinzon was a fellow at the New York Foundation for the Arts, and she also received a grant from the Ford Foundation in the same year.  She has studied photography at the International Center of Photography in New York City.  She currently resides in New York City.  To say the least we’re looking forward to exhibiting her work.

Photo Credit: Dulce Pinzon

Public Art

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Public art has been with us since man first drew on cave walls.  It is an important aesthetic contribution to the public welfare.  It supports communities in a manner that cannot be easily quantified.  Public spending on community art projects has seriously eroded since the Reagan years.  Federal, state, and local spending have been curtailed in supporting the arts in general.  Public art provides a respite from the daily grind.  Driving or walking within communities that provide installed art throughout a village or city makes for a more enjoyable daily experience.  It can provide an opportunity for young and established artists to exhibit their work in a public venue, that not only helps an artist out, but provides a visual object that generates public discourse, be it positive or negative – it connects people to a place and a broader sense of community.  ZIA supports such efforts on the part of the artist we represent.  Rolland Kulla has had his work displayed at Willis Tower in Chicago, and has just been asked to have his work shown at Fermi Laboratories.  Deanna Krueger has seen her work shown throughout the city of Chicago in hotels and office buildings.  Photographer Clyde Butcher’s work can be seen at the Ft. Lauderdale airport.  His large-scale images grace the concourse.  This is all good for the artist and the general public.  More artists need their work shown to the public.  A gallery can do so much, but a public showing improves the visuals in our society and it needs to be brought back to the forefront of public policy.  Supporting the arts supports an important part of society.  It feeds it in a manner that is entirely different from the everyday regimen of survival.  It makes living in a place that much nicer.

Photo Credit: John Vlahakis

Collecting Photographs

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Each individual has there own opinion and taste when it comes to fine art.  Deciding if the art you are viewing appeals to you or not is quite the subjective experience.  Collecting art on the other hand depends on a variety of factors.  Some collectors follow an artist as they grow, some follow what certain art magazines say which artist is hot or not, and some hire a curator to tell them what they should buy.  Buying an original piece is a guarantee that you will be the only person in the world to own it.  Photography, and some fine art are faced with different market considerations.  Some fine art is produced in limited editions.  Most fine art photography is produced in limited editions as well.  There are certain photographers that will sell an original piece, but the majority tends to sell in editions.  Editions can range in size from one of two, to one in 1000, to even open ended editions.  As a fine art photographer I collect and produce only small limited editions.  To me the value in collecting fine art photography is at the low end of limited editions.  Personally, I only produce a maximum run of five prints, and on my larger works I limit the edition to two.  And when I purchase a piece from another photographer I admire, I do not seek out editions that are greater than seven.  The smaller the edition, the greater the value the work will retain in the long run.  ZIA only represents photographers that keep their editions on the low end, to ensure future value appreciation for those that purchase the work.  Once an edition is sold out the negative, or digital file is destroyed to prevent the creation of future editions.  This ensures the art works future appreciation, and for the photographer, a lasting knowledge that our work will never be replicated by future generations.

Photo Credit: John Vlahakis

Miami Basel End Notes

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Art Now Miami came to a close on Sunday December 4th.  Four days of non-stop activity centered on our world of art.

Waiting In Line

Artists, collectors, gallerist’s, and the general public all came together for four days in Miami and Miami Beach.  Every night there was some party going on somewhere at one of the multiple art venues.  Our own Art Now venue had back-to-back evening cocktail parties that extended the fair hours.  Celebrity sightings were common.  Joan Allen and the House Wives of New York City all came through our space, with Ms. Allen asking for additional information on several of our artists.  The Housewives were strictly gossiping about each other, as their camera crew filmed them going through Art Now.

NADA

Attendance was steady and with each successive day the quality of art fair attendees seemed to improve.  Art Now was a new fair addition to the Miami landscape, and though it wasn’t as busy as the other fairs, it seemed to bring attention to the galleries there.  We most likely will not repeat at Art Now next year.  ZIA will look to attend one of the other fairs next year, as attendance and buying activity seemed stronger at the other venues.  We did plant the flag in Miami for the first time, and we did make connections with buyers from around the U.S., even arranging for one artist to be considered by corporate giant Microsoft’s Gallery curator.  And we did sell art too!

ZIA

Attending an exhibit such as this was time consuming and taxing for the ZIA staff, not only for those who went, but also for those who stayed behind and kept the doors open at the gallery. Despite the difficulties in pulling off such an event, ZIA will look to attend other art fairs in 2012, with an eye toward building the gallery and artists we represent to the collecting art world.  In the mean time we’re posting additional images from the four days for your consideration.

Collins Avenue

 

NADA

 

Aqua

Photo Credits: John Vlahakis

Art Now Miami Part 2

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First day at Art Now Miami was quite eventful.  A full day of meeting and mingling with art buyers from around the world.  The venue got off to a slow start, but by mid day people were heading into the Catalina Hotel to see the galleries that had set up shop there.  Things heated up even more during the evening hours as the Art Now people put on a cocktail reception that was open to the public.  Today’s event went from 10 am to 10 pm.  Anne and Mary put up a great exhibit and the complimentary comments were numerous to say the least.  We were probably the only gallery there that made the effort to showcase all of our artists.  The walls were packed as best as they could be given the small space we had to work with.  The weather today was cooperative with beautiful blue skies and warm temperatures in the mid 70′s, sorry Chicago, but the weather here has been exemplary.  Winter simply does not exist.  Collins Avenue where the Catalina Hotel is located was packed with people strolling along the avenue.  You basically saw just about everything from girls walking down the street in bikini’s, to guys dressed in glitter and putting on the ritz.  This  art gathering is very international.  You hear every language except English.  A lot of people from Europe are here checking out the  art scene as well as the fashionistas from South America.  Enjoy the pics from today’s event at Art Now Miami.   Photo credits: John Vlahakis

Art Now Miami

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Seeing that this is the first outside art event ZIA has participated in we are beyond excited.  Anne Hughes and Mary Burke have done an outstanding job in getting the art work down to Miami, and in setting up the space we’ve rented at the Art Now fair.  Their travels to Miami are the makings of a modern day version of Trains, Planes, and Automobiles.  Despite getting into an accident, being towed 60 miles, changing rental car companies, and making it down to Miami Beach all in one piece, including the art work, they have set up an exhibition space that we can call home, though as Mary liked to point out, that perhaps after four grueling days of exhibiting, we’ll want to go home.  Who would?  Sun, fun, and art work in Miami in December?  Who wouldn’t want the party to last!  Couple of pix to show you the Catalina Hotel from the outside, and the space prior to finishing it up.  The hotel itself is a stich.  A cross between a modernesque boutique hotel and bordello.  A lot of red in the hallways and rooms.  Two doors down from Aqua Miami, it’s a great location on Collins Avenue in the heart of South Beach.  We’re looking forward to the crowds, (hopefully), and to representing and selling our artists.  If by chance you made the sojourn down to Florida, please do stop by.  More later as the show progresses!

Photo Credit: John Vlahakis

Farrell, Musgrove, Schofield To Show At ZIA

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Artists Holly Farrell, John Musgrove, and Matthew Schofield will have an exhibition at ZIA this coming December from the 9th through January 21, 2012.

Matthew Schofield Hamilton 6 x 6

As always we will have an opening night reception on the 9th.  Wine and apps will be served from 5 to 7:30 pm.  Do stop by to meet and greet these exceptionally talented individuals. Holly and Matthew will be coming in from Canada, and John will be arriving from San Francisco.  Each artist obviously likes to approach their visions from different directions.  Mathew is focused on observing the ignored. The overarching theme of his work has been painting images of the unnoticed snapshots and overlooked moments while attempting to order the outcome of random sequences.

Holly’s  paintings were very much a part of the Folk Art tradition – expressive and painted on canvas in a naive or primitive style.  She draws things from her apartment – the day-to-daythings that were part of her everyday life (vintage chairs, antique bowls, vintage teacups,old cookbooks).

Holly Farrell - unknown

John Musgrove paints the fleeting drama and beauty of everyday experience. He is drawn to compositions in which light, shadow, form and color interact to create both balance and surprise.  He paints individual pieces of wood and then assembles them into his final painting, providing a different look and feel to the drama he creates.

John Musgrove Moraga Clouds

We do hope you can all stop by and join us on opening night.  If you cannot make it for opening night, keep in mind that their show will run for six weeks.  And if I have not mentioned, any of their works make for a most excellent holiday gift!  See you soon.

The Art of Acquiring Art

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Acquiring art is not an easy decision process, and it depends on which side of the fence you fall on.  On the one side you have buyers who are looking to match the color of the paint on the wall in a room.  Or find a piece that would go well over the fireplace mantel.  On the other side you have individuals that buy art because it means something to them.  It is a more visceral approach to buying art.  It could be that they’ve come to admire a particular artist, or have decided to pursue a certain genre in art.  Collecting art becomes a passion for them.  They buy a particular piece because it appeals to them in an emotional or intellectual manner.  It could appeal to them on both levels as well.  As a Gallerist you never quite know what appeals to a buyer.  Yes, we do have a sense of what may appeal to a buyer, but what appeals to one buyer does not appeal to another.  As a gallery we are always intrigued by why someone buys a piece, but the one word we do hear in these discussions to buy, is that the buyer loves the piece they are interested in.

People ask me on occasion as to which artist should they buy.   I always reply buy what you like.  Do not buy because you think it will appreciate through the roof, buy it because you will enjoy it and value it.  Most buyers we see have a focus on wanting to collect.  Be it a particular artist or genre.  But, I would say they predominantly buy because they love the work they want.  The hardest part sometimes is deciding between several pieces form an artist they really like and enjoy.  Either way always acquire what you love and can appreciate.  Art resonates for all of us.

L 26  Oil Painting By Carl Wilen

Photographer Nevada Wier Joins ZIA

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Nevada Wier is an award-winning photographer specializing in the remote corners of the globe and the cultures that inhabit them.  ZIA|Gallery is pleased to announce that Ms. Wier has agreed to be represented by the gallery.  Ms. Wier’s work will be represented at the MiamiNow Art Fair this coming December 1-4.  Nevada’s journeys have taken her throughout Southeast Asia, India, China, Nepal, Africa, New Zealand, Central Asia, Mongolia, South America and other obscure regions of the world. Her work is represented for licensing byGetty and Corbis. Nevada has been published in numerous national and international publications, including:NG Adventure, Geo, Islands, National Geographic, Outdoor Photographer,Outside, and Smithsonian. She is a Fellow of The Explorer’s Club, a member of the Society of Woman Geographers and was featured in aNorthwest Airlines international television and print ad campaign.  For additional information on Ms. Wier’s work please contact the gallery directly at ziagallery.net