On Taking the Challenge: A Gallery Update
Pop Up Gallery Research Log 3
I am opening a pop up art gallery in April and that month is coming FAST.
Last year I focused on meeting with artists, talking to gallery owners, and intentionally viewing as much art as I could. While I originally planned to host the gallery in October, I got the sense that I didn’t need to draw out this project any longer than necessary. So April was far enough to plan well, but close enough to start feeling real.
It’s not been without obstacle though. 👀
Earlier this year when presenting to a panel on how I plan to use the second half of my grant in order to receive it, I felt I got mixed reception. The primary feedback (among others) was “it’s ambitious” and the same way people use “interesting”- I wasn’t sure if this was in a good or bad way. Their cautious approval came from a space of excited curiosity. The silent words I heard between the lines was “Is this feasible? Can she actually accomplish this?” I know I’m doing some projection there. I mean they accepted my initial proposal last year so there had to be some faith but talking to them live about it with the details ironed out felt different.
I know this feedback was only given with the best intent. They want my project to be a success and ensure I’m considering all angles. And I genuinely did receive good advice to consider. Especially around having a strategy for selling art and how to engage artists. But I also felt challenged by this theme of ambition. All of my life I’ve been nothing if not ambitious and passionate to make my visions a reality. Was this the time to change- even if just for this project?
Some of the questions I got caused me to question myself. So I went back to the drawing board and adjusted my plan. I believe ambition can’t get far if it can’t take feedback and evolve. Rather than 4 weekend exhibitions I would do 3. Instead of assorted programming on the weekdays, I would focus on executing the exhibitions at a high level so as not to stretch my audience thin across too many events. I would lead with simplicity rather than maximization. It’s still aligned, just a different strategy than I had planned.
No less than two weeks later from that meeting, another local event producer announced a month long series of almost daily events. 🤯
They were aware at a high level that I was planning a pop up, but they knew little about its details. Theirs came about separately and organically. What was shared during our subsequent meeting was affirming. They said, “At the end of the day, it’s just hanging art on walls. How hard can that be?”
And they were right. Mind you- they’re coming from a completely different perspective of event production vs a fine art institution. And obviously there’s more to it than what they described. But at its root, my goal is to create opportunity for local artists and bring them together with community members. So the foundation of that is hanging art on the walls and getting people to come out. I own a hammer and nails and I’m a goddamn marketer, I know how to get people to come out.
This, paired with meeting my (new!!!) co collaborator sparked a fire under me. His feedback was similar - go big or go home. How many times will you have a blank slate of a space to play with for a month? How do we embrace the art of the possible here? I expect my game plan will change again, but it’ll be grounded in both feasibility and possibility when it is.
The experience of bringing on a collaborator is one I’m also excited for. I’m so “I can do bad all by myself” and found it hard to ask for help in previous projects. It’s one thing to attempt large projects alone when you have the privilege of time and focus. I don’t have that excess anymore, but it’s just also not how I want to work. I desire to be in deep community with my creative peers. I know engaging my collaborator and others in this way will open me up to new opportunities, ideas, and make this a more pleasurable and fun experience.
I don’t have to carry it all on my own.
Question for you: Are you quick to ask for help or do you try and figure it out yourself first? I’m curious how others navigate this tension.
Can we have testimony service for a moment?
Just in the first meeting I had with my collaborator, he was able to call out local resources I could use to save money in my budget for this project. Resources I would have never known about otherwise that will allow me to reinvest money into other areas that were lacking.
And upon calling the venue owner about my proposed project, he said “x has it for Feb, and y has it for March, so sure- April would be perfect.” And upon telling him I had a budget that I knew may not cover the full mortgage, he said he may know a resource willing to help.
HIYA!!!!!
Y’all understand what I’m saying here?
Getting this grant in the first place was a blessing. But being guided to move the dates and connect with specific people has opened up even more opportunity that aligned with divine timing. And if the suggested resources don’t pan out as expected- it’s still valuable for me to know they exist for future opportunities.
I know prep for April will not be easy, but it will be transformative. I’ll rediscover my capacity, how I work with others in this context, and see a dream that’s been brewing for years come to fruition. At this point, I have a month and a half before opening. But the gallery will be exactly what it needs to be and I’m exhilarated to discover the outcome. More updates to come and I can’t wait to share details with you all!!
Pop Up Gallery Research Log 3 is the third installment in a series of reflections on my research and findings regarding my pop up art gallery project funded by the Research and Development Snapdragon grant.
The Research Log is purposely public so that it may be bidirectional. If you know of any people or resources that may aid this work please don’t hesitate to comment or reach out!