Elisa Pritzker Talks Art: Artist Run Galleries

In the traditional gallery art scene, artists learned how to interact with the "prestigious and distant gallery director." I'm amazed at how things change rapidly. The gallery environment has shifted in many ways. This column touches on the changing gallery managerial area, more specifically to point out that nowadays there is a good amount of galleries opened and run by artists.

I asked Meadow, an established mixed media artist, how she feels about this topic. She has a favorable opinion about this growing double role. Meadow says that traditionally the role was stricter. "People in the arts, particularly, in the art history sector were taking on the teaching or galleries paths. In today's gallery scene you see that many artists are opening art spaces and -sometimes- this double role helps them deal with other artists with "more sensitivity" than the non-artist gallery owners/directors."

I decided to further explore this topic by presenting Heads and Tails, an exhibition at my gallery in November 2009. Barbara Esmark is one of the invited artists to the Head and Tails exhibit. She is an artist and gallery owner of the Be Gallery (www.begallery.com). Regarding this topic, I asked her several questions.

Barbara says very spontaneously (without editing or thinking much):

1. How do you feel having two roles in the arts (artist and gallery director)?
I've been doing my own art and promoting the arts programs since I was in my teens. I had a career as a graphic designer for nearly 15 years. I have always been involved in non profit promotion and fundraising - for arts, public higher education and the environment. All are extremely creative enterprises if they are approached in that way. Everything we do, if we are lucky enough to choose, is a form of creative expression. With the gallery, as with my work in design and visual communications, the realms overlap. There are times when the activity is as fluid as can be and meshes perfectly. Of course there are times when there is a little internal questioning as to priorities and fulfilling one's idea of "just" doing my art. But, everything is an art - it's a matter of choice.

2. Is there any plus to having the two roles? When I opened my gallery I did not expect to show my own work. I decided to include one or two pieces in the gallery -- a gallery that usually displays 70 or more works of art. As a result, several of my pieces have sold along side of the other artists. Having never had a regular gallery in which to show work, this has been enormously affirming.

3. Is there any minus to having the two roles? I spend much more time promoting other artists and their work than I do my own. But, of course, it much more difficult promoting oneself. I think the scales are very heavy on the plus side. The contact with artists, with buyers, the creativity of hanging the shows - which I love. The salons and opportunities for discussion and exchange. All this - as an artist - I would have to search for. With the gallery, it's right here.

4. How do the artists that you work with feel about you being an artist too? That would be a good question to ask them. I have a strong relation and commitment to the gallery artists. They are in general supportive of all I do. If this is an issue, I've not been included in the discussion.

I would love to hear your observations about this issue. Send your comments to pritzkerstudio@aol.com