Friends-- I have a problem that maybe somebody out there can help
with.
If you look at my work in the Orchid Galleries: http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/noel.htm you will see that it is a
bit different than most. I do other, more saleable work, but these
pieces are closest to my heart. Well, I haven’t been able to
find/get into the right market for them. Not only that, but these
slides don’t actually work very well to get me into the good shows,
which I confess baffles me.
So, I continue to hunt. So if anyone knows a particular situation
that seems like a likely match for me, please let me know. Thanks,
in any case!
Well, I haven't been able to find/get into the right market for
them.
Noel, those are wonderful pieces, I can easily see them in a
gallery in Mendocino, CA or Santa Cruz. Maybe someone on Orchid is
from those areas…or try googling for the chamber of commerce in
those cities.
I love looking a interesting, well-designed jewellery. Here in
Vancouver, I’d expect to find unique interesting jewellery like yours
in a high end craft gallery, or a jewellery store that specialized in
artisan jewellery (a rare thing).
Not only that, but these slides don't actually work very well
to get me into the good shows, which I confess baffles me.
First of all, your work is beautiful and without a doubt the equal
of work I have seen at ACC shows and the like. Secondly, your slides
are fine: well-lit, in focus and AD very important for jury slides AD
the images are upfront (by which I mean they take up most of the
frame without unnecessary background showing).
So what’s the problem? I have two thoughts here. One is that
jurying with your wonderful “It’s a chair! It’s a pin! No, it’s a
pair of earrings!” slide (and the equally delightful “Rainy Day”) is
problematic. The jury won’t understand what they’re looking at
(including the scale, since it could easily be 8" tall for all they
know). The descriptions that you’re asked for on the application
form are rarely available to the jury so that’ s no help. The way
this is handled differs from show to show; some read the description
of just the first slide to the jury while others may allow the jurors
to request descriptions, but you can’t depend on this.
So what to do? Either don’t use these slides to jury with (sorry!)
or get in touch with Jane Campbell, who makes fabulous boxes that
come apart into pieces of jewelry, and see how she does it (I have
seen her at ACC shows). The most recent contact info I can find on
her is from 2000: 228 Church St., Cambridge Springs, PA 16403,
814-398-8687. Don’t be shy about calling: In my experience, the
vast majority of artists are glad to help.
The second possibility is one that I struggle with constantly myself
AD choosing a group of slides that look good together and present a
coherent style and vision. When you create a diverse body of work,
this can be difficult. For instance, while there is a stylistic
relationship between “Granny’s Porch” and “Take the Long View,” it’s
also conceivable that these two pieces could have been created by
two different people. On the other hand, “Take the Long View” and
“Cross Country” are clearly the work of the same artist and they
would look great side by side on a big screen.
And that’s the best I can offer except to say that you’ll get there.
Your work is first rate so keep trying! I applied to ACC shows for
3 years before I finally got in and even then I didn’t make it every
year. No matter how good your set of slides, it’s still a crap shoot
to some extent and you can’t take it personally. Hope this helps.
Noel, Your work is really exquisite. I would suggest you look for
one of a kind outlets in collector series of jewelry. Sotheby’s and
Sac’s come to mind. Generally the market will not appreciate the
detail and complexity of your work. It will take a specialty minded
marketer to get it out and sell it. Also, keep up a website presence.
Our site is continually growing and acts as a launching point for
more sales. Through the site we have met many people who appreciate
the nontraditional items. That is where we sell them. I call my
collection of special items - The Connoisseurs Collection. You could
do something along a similar line.