Times are tough for everyone, but artists get hit first. I’ve been hearing from many that nothing is selling in the Hudson Valley area. What do you do to compensate?
One idea might be to try selling online. I don’t know anyone who’s doing this successfully, but did come across one online gallery that is selling like gangbusters: Jen Bekman’s 20x200.com. They release a limited edition print every Tuesday and Wednesday. Buyers have a choice of buying one of 200 small prints for $20, one of 20 medium-sized prints for $200 or one of two large prints for $2000. Many times all prints are sold within a day, one sold out in a matter of minutes. When you add all that up, the numbers get interesting.
Jen Bekman started out with a gallery on the lower east side of New York City a few years ago. Her mission to introduce emerging artists to (new) collectors exploded with the 20x200 web site. Let me know if you sign on. I want a full report.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Blog-o-Meter Reading July 27, 2008
Search results for Molly Ahearn:
• Google: #1
• Yahoo: #1
• MSN: #1
Google Page Rank for my site: 2 (out of 10)
Number of page views to this blog: 2479
Number of page views to my site: 2079
Number of email subscribers: 17
• Google: #1
• Yahoo: #1
• MSN: #1
Google Page Rank for my site: 2 (out of 10)
Number of page views to this blog: 2479
Number of page views to my site: 2079
Number of email subscribers: 17
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Planning Makes for a Successful Show
If you want to have a good crowd at the opening reception of your next exhibit—and hopefully sell well—you need to get organized. I like to have 3 months to plan for a big show. Once I have a plan, I find the whole process is a lot less anxiety-producing.
Spreadsheet
First thing I do is create an Excel spreadsheet with the dates running across the horizontal top row (one week per column) and a list of every task that has to be done running down the left column vertically. Then I fill in the cells with gray when every task needs to be done. I print it out on one page and that page lives on my desk. Every Monday morning I review what needs to be done for the week. I put a check in each box that’s finished.
Finalize Dates
The most important date to establish is the opening reception. As soon as you work that out with everyone involved, send a “Save the Date” email to everyone on your list. People make plans months ahead of time and you need to leave time for family/friends who don’t live nearby to make hotel reservations.
Promotion Materials
Print: Remember to keep the design of all promotion materials the same so people begin to recognize the event.
Post card: When I’m responsible for printing post cards, I use modernpostcard.com. They’re inexpensive, fast and the quality is good. If you’re lucky, the gallery or sponsor will cover the expense of printing post cards. In any case, you need to carefully review and update your mailing list.
Poster: Posters are a good way to advertise locally. Many local shops with storefront windows let you put up a poster. The library is also a good spot, as well as the community bulletin board and the Chamber of Commerce.
Ecard: The internet is king. You can reach millions if you want to. Create a jpg version of your post card and email the world. (If you don’t use an email service, DO NOT put everyone’s email in the cc box. People get really annoyed.)
Advertising: If you’ve got the money, advertise in local/art publications.
Press: Find out what the submission dates are for all the publications. Magazines will have deadlines at least 6 weeks ahead of publication.
Newspapers: Get a broad list of all publications in the gallery’s vicinity.
Magazines: Include arts magazines as well as local magazines and any other publications that might be interested in the content of your art (ex: for my cowgirl show, I researched publications that are interested in cowgirls/cowboys/horses).
Online/print calendar listings: This is something you do a couple of weeks before the show. Mostly, you can file a listing online that will serve for both print/online calendar lists. Don’t forget your local radio stations.
Art
Survey space: Take your camera and a tape measure. Write down how much space is available and note which are the best spots.
Plan show layout: Figure out what size prints to make and plan where you will hang them.
Plan prices: Decide on selling prices—don’t forget to factor in the gallery’s percentage.
Prep photo files: Clean spots, touch up, etc.
Order frames: Leave enough time for shipping if you’re ordering.
Make Prints: Send files out for archival prints.
Sign prints/put together: Do this before you go to hang the show.
Show
Plan food/drinks
Buy food/drinks/paper products
Hang show
Guest book
Spreadsheet
First thing I do is create an Excel spreadsheet with the dates running across the horizontal top row (one week per column) and a list of every task that has to be done running down the left column vertically. Then I fill in the cells with gray when every task needs to be done. I print it out on one page and that page lives on my desk. Every Monday morning I review what needs to be done for the week. I put a check in each box that’s finished.
Finalize Dates
The most important date to establish is the opening reception. As soon as you work that out with everyone involved, send a “Save the Date” email to everyone on your list. People make plans months ahead of time and you need to leave time for family/friends who don’t live nearby to make hotel reservations.
Promotion Materials
Print: Remember to keep the design of all promotion materials the same so people begin to recognize the event.
Post card: When I’m responsible for printing post cards, I use modernpostcard.com. They’re inexpensive, fast and the quality is good. If you’re lucky, the gallery or sponsor will cover the expense of printing post cards. In any case, you need to carefully review and update your mailing list.
Poster: Posters are a good way to advertise locally. Many local shops with storefront windows let you put up a poster. The library is also a good spot, as well as the community bulletin board and the Chamber of Commerce.
Ecard: The internet is king. You can reach millions if you want to. Create a jpg version of your post card and email the world. (If you don’t use an email service, DO NOT put everyone’s email in the cc box. People get really annoyed.)
Advertising: If you’ve got the money, advertise in local/art publications.
Press: Find out what the submission dates are for all the publications. Magazines will have deadlines at least 6 weeks ahead of publication.
Newspapers: Get a broad list of all publications in the gallery’s vicinity.
Magazines: Include arts magazines as well as local magazines and any other publications that might be interested in the content of your art (ex: for my cowgirl show, I researched publications that are interested in cowgirls/cowboys/horses).
Online/print calendar listings: This is something you do a couple of weeks before the show. Mostly, you can file a listing online that will serve for both print/online calendar lists. Don’t forget your local radio stations.
Art
Survey space: Take your camera and a tape measure. Write down how much space is available and note which are the best spots.
Plan show layout: Figure out what size prints to make and plan where you will hang them.
Plan prices: Decide on selling prices—don’t forget to factor in the gallery’s percentage.
Prep photo files: Clean spots, touch up, etc.
Order frames: Leave enough time for shipping if you’re ordering.
Make Prints: Send files out for archival prints.
Sign prints/put together: Do this before you go to hang the show.
Show
Plan food/drinks
Buy food/drinks/paper products
Hang show
Guest book
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Rodeo Cowgirl Show at Millbrook Vineyards
The Dutchess County Arts Council selects artists to participate in the Art in the Loft series at Millbrook Vineyards. I’m proud and honored to let you know that I was chosen to be part of a two-person show in the fall. The other artist, Jose Acosta, is an oil painter who paints with the spectacular palette of his Cuban background. I’ll be mostly showing black-and-white photos from my rodeo cowgirls collection, although I’m sneaking in a few color shots from my Americana series. The exhibit runs from September 1 through November 10.
Don’t miss the opening reception Saturday, September 13 from 4:30 to 6:30 pm. Award-winning Millbrook wine and hors d'oeuvres will be served. The winery sits atop a hill with its fields of grapes below, a stunning view of the nearby hills all around. It’s a beautiful spot to be on a fall afternoon. The Millbrook Vineyard is located at 26 Wing Road in Millbrook, NY.Mark your calendars now. If you want to stay overnight, make a
reservation soon because September is a busy time in the valley.
See you there!
Friday, July 11, 2008
You've Come a Long Way Baby
Two of my cowgirl images were selected to be included as part of the "Not Your Mama's World" exhibition at the Washington Gallery of Photography in Bethesda, MD. The exhibit showcases work of women photographers interpreting how the world has changed since their mother's day. Missy Loewe, academic dean of the School and president of Capitol Arts Network served as juror.
The gallery is part of the Washington School of Photography started by photographers in 1976 as a place for quality education. The exhibit will run from August 8 - September 9. In case you're nearby, the gallery is located at 4850 Rugby Avenue.
The gallery is part of the Washington School of Photography started by photographers in 1976 as a place for quality education. The exhibit will run from August 8 - September 9. In case you're nearby, the gallery is located at 4850 Rugby Avenue.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
4th Fun
July 4th is my favorite holiday! No presents, no dinners, no anxiety. Here are a few moments from my weekend—parade, fireworks, demolition derby!
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Caribbean Artists’ Village
Right out of college, I managed to land a job working for a newly formed artists’ village in the Dominican Republic called Altos de Chavon, a truly magical place. Hot pink bougainvillea flowers drip from balconies. Cars are forbidden on its narrow cobblestone streets. Honey-coated notes from a practicing musician occasionally drift up from the outdoor amphitheater. Handcrafted metal sculptures peer from under handhewn wooden eaves. If you’re lucky, a breeze, soft as a whisper, might dance across your face; brief relief from the jungle’s nearly tangible heat.
Today, Altos is an established cultural center. Artists from all over the world take advantage of its residency program. Students attend its design school, a Parsons affiliate. Exhibitions of Dominican and international art hang in its galleries. An archaelogical museum honors the rich Taino Indian history. When I worked there, it was my job to book the talent in the 5,000-seat outdoor amphitheater(!) I met my husband there—he was my boss. These pictures are from a trip we made years later.
If you go, stop by Milton’s supercerveza in La Romana on the way. He’s mastered the art of preparing a beer just on the brink of freezing. You’ll be sitting on a bar stool out in the open, sweat dripping down your back; he’ll set a Presidente in front of you but motion that it’s not ready to drink. He’ll go back to talking with his cronies. Just when you think he’s forgotten all about you, he’ll motion for you to go ahead. It will be the best beer of your life.Want me to write more about Altos?
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