John Kudlacek on thu 6 jul 06
I am schedule to deliver a retrospective show to a museum gallery by the
end of this month. Although I had been to the gallery several months ago,
I hadn't paid much attention to the quality of their installation as they
were then taking a show down. As I was having a meeting next door to the
gallery today I took a look see. One of my friends was having a show in
one of their three galleries. I was appaled by the way the work was
labeled. Each piece had a label at least the size of a postcard and in
somecases was larger than the piece on display. Not only that, the artist
name appeared on each card although it was a one person show. (The clutter
gave me the impression that leaflets had been dropped on her show.)
I have taken the prospect of this show very seriously and have been very
involved for months making new work for it and rounding up old. ( At my
age, you never know if this show might be your last.) I am under the
impression that the museum is micro managed by a board of directors that
are well meaning but lacking in aesthetic sophistication.
Am I way off base requesting a different labeling method? Any
suggestions? Like, "where do I get off telling them how to do their job"?
Any ideas on how to handle this sticky situation? I have even considered
hiring the task out.
In the future when I am offered a show like this I will not only want to
know the dimension of the space but will want to see images of past
installations and take it from there.
Perplexed in Kansas
Ann Brink on thu 6 jul 06
If you volunteer to make your own cards, they may be happy as all get-out to
have you do so...less work for them. Tell them you will show them a sample
ahead of time...
Also, I hope you get to hang/set up your own show; some venues appreciate
this, but if they don't want to give up complete control, offer to help
arrange the show. Tell them that presentation is such a large part of how
your pieces look, that you would like to add your input....
Ann Brink in Lompoc CA
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Kudlacek"
of> Am I way off base requesting a different labeling method? Any
> suggestions? Like, "where do I get off telling them how to do their job"?
> Any ideas on how to handle this sticky situation? I have even considered
> hiring the task out.
>
Snail Scott on thu 6 jul 06
At 12:22 AM 7/6/2006 -0400, you wrote:
>I am schedule to deliver a retrospective show to a museum gallery...I was
appaled by the way the work was
>labeled...Am I way off base requesting a different labeling method?
No.
Make your desires plain. And SPECIFIC! Instead
of saying that their style sucks, offer to
provide 'your preferred format' for wall tags.
Could be that the staff isn't fond of the current
style, either, or else the person who put them
together is new, young, or clueless and would
appreciate advice. In any case, it's your show.
State politely but firmly that you have strong
preferences about labeling.
If they won't go for it, offer to do the labels
yourself, at least to the extent of providing
the computer file. Use a line box around each
tag to ensure they get cropped where you want.
(Discreet crop marks don't always get taken as
a clear hint.)
SPELL CHECK THE TAGS!!!!!!!!
If they won't go for even this, make up a set
mounted on foamcore, and when you arrive at the
show reception, take theirs down and replace
them on the spot. Apologize later, if necessary.
It's a pain to have to do for yourself all the
things that the gallery should be responsible
for. But better that than letting it go.
And ask to have input on the publicity flyers
or postcards, too, and to see a proof before
they go out.
-Snail
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