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March 18, 1992 Flagpole Magazine Page 9
Art Encounters
For some artists the matter of making their work avail
able for viewing is one of the most debilitating processes,
far from the experience and the purpose of making the
work. One of the most stark examples of an artist who had
trouble blending life, art, and promotion is Vincent van
Gogh; he sometimes wrote to Theo, his brother, more than
two times per day in order to feel connection and purpose
for his work. Van Gogh, w;>o suffered many breakdowns
due to a feeling of hopelessness, would send most of his
paintings to Theo for remark as well as financial help, and
art supplies. His confusion sometimes manifested itself in
his correspondence; “My impres
sion is that since we are all rather
distressed and a littie overwrought
besides, it matters little compara
tively to insist on having any very
clear definition of the position in
which we are. You rather surprise
me by seeming to wish to force the
situation. Can I do anything about
it, at least can I do anything that
you would like for me to do?"
Athens is a town in which many artists hide in their
hollows most of the time, only to be seen occasionally at
three week spurts at the venues which allow display. This
week I chose to seek out the opportunities for artists at a few,
but certainly not all, of the high impact places. The one
closest to mind is The Downstairs on Clayton St., where
there is no commission taken from the artist’s sale; neither
is there hesitation in Chris’ or Andrew’s voice when they
state that for them it is a pleasure to see artists make exactly
what pr ice they set on their work. Things go if they are priced
to sell, so be sure to approach them with work you can part
with for copper, not gold. (If you don’t want to sell anything
then ignore the advice.) It is a restaurant as well as a club
but this doesn’t mean the work will go unnoticed; patrons
revolve back to the under-city atmosphere for delectable
meals as well as image bombardment.
Another well traversed spot is the Strand, located on
1625 S. Lumpkin St. Michael Joyce who owns the gallery/
hair salon wishes to have a new perspective for his clients
each time they visit. The Strand takes no commission on
sales, one reason being Michael’s awareness of the plight
of the gallery-minded artist. There should be some sort of
perk for living and showing in a small town; there must be
a contrast with the galleries in New York, and now Atlanta,
who have 50% commission of the sales.
The Loef Gallery is a unique store in that the space has
been donated by the Loef family and that the artists sit with
the store in turn, each working an allotted one time in the
year. Located at 320 E. Clayton St., Loef is a cooperative
gallery run partly by the 20% commission off of sales. Each
artist interested in showing must be juried in by Mary
Padgelek and pay a yearly fee of $40.00 to be a part of the
guild. Once the artist has been accepted there is room for
their focus to change, even medium—as long as things are
selling. The Loef gallery as well as The Art of It All, located
at 234 College Ave., lean more towards highly finished
saleable art and craftwork. The Art of It All takes 40%
commission and the work is on consignment. Please br : ng
your slides or the actual artwork to be seen by Danna Lea.
The Rage, located in the thick of downtown at 132
College Ave., is also a hair salon and gallery. The Rage
takes no commission on sales and
is looked on by the community as
a good place to go and see inno
vative local art; show your work to
the owners: Missy Sanderson or
Sharon Lunetta.
The Grit is showing some fine
paintings this week; in order to
book a show with them, you would
talk to Jeremy or one of the two
owners. I believe there is a 15%
commission on sales. There will be some particularly no
table shows coming up, since some of the artists I most
admire will be showing soon.
Spectrum 412, which is a shop and gallery at 255 E.
Clayton, has a negotiable commission, depending on the
materials and scale of the work. Talk to Lynn Harris about
displaying work there and keep your eye out for some major
changes in the store’s format.
All this talk about commission and art has squeamish
qualities, enough to go home and wash my mouth out with
soap. I will be content with quoting Vincent van Gogh once
more from the last letter he wrote but never sent, found on
his body after he shot himself. “Well the truth is, we can only
make our pictures speak. But yet, I have always told you,
and I repeat it once more with all the earnestness that can
be expressed by the effort cf a mind diligently fixed on trying
to do as well as possible — I shall always consider you to
be something more than a simple dealer of Corots, that
through my mediation you have your part in the actual
production of some canvases, which will retain their calm
even after the catastrophe. For this is what we have got to
do, and this is all or at least the main thing that I have to tell
you at the moment of comparative crisis. At a moment when
things are very strained between dealers in pictures of dead
artists and living artists. Well, my own work, I am risking my
life for it and my reason has half foundered because of it —
that’s all right — but you are not among the dealers in men
as far as I know, and you can still choose your side, I think,
acting with humanity, but what do you want?"
Bettina Hubby
All this talk
about commission and
art has squeamish
qualities, enough to go
home and wash my mouth
out with soap...
Herding Four Times More!
Nathan Sheppard, entertainer deluxe, herds the
masses into the doors of The Flying Buffalo for four
performances: Thursday, March 19th.; Friday, March
20th.; Thursday, March 26th.; and Friday, March
27th. We thought you’d like to know: this is no hit-or-
miss proposition: Nathan mixes his own songs with
familiar covers, and has even been known to take
(and perform!) a request or three. The Hying Buffalo
is located in The Station Complex: 95, Hoyt Street,
is well-lit, has running water and forced air heat, and
the food is good as well. There is a spring under the
building, but that’s another story. (30.)
Vic — Whatta Chesnutt!
Coming from no tree but a family tree, this favorite son
of Zebulon will sing and play at The 40 Watt on Friday,
March 27th. Chesnutt writes gritty songs and delivers
them in a voice redolent of unpaved Pike County roads
in the summertime: you know the kind: the cloud of
dust roils forth Dehind you, reminiscent of something
out of a Faulkner opus. One of the worst things that
ever happened to music in Athens was when Vic left
and went west to live for awhile. One of the best was
when he returned. Run early to manage to get a good
place to stand. You’re apt to thank me. (30.)
Dozen (jcirlic Rolls
tvith u purchase of a
Ig. Pizza <tr a Dinner.
1065 Baxter St. * 353-1065
FREE!
ALMANAC
333 E. Broad St.
543-8038
Hours: M-Sat. 10-6
A World
of
Fashion
Free T-Shirt with a Sex Drink
(White supply last)
Thurs.
$ 1.25 MARGARITAS
— .
r, .
rn.
Nark Maxwell
| ''-'M
(In. last weeks ad the $1.00 domestics was only for
Wednesday night we’re sorry fopr the confusion)
220 College Ave,
Ph. 546 7612