Imagine my excitement when a tall, handsome artist asked me out for a drink. His choice of location and wine perfection, my new outfit worth every penny I didn’t have. Conversation was easy and things were going great; or so I thought until I realized this was not a date at all but an overt submission. This happens to me more than I’d like to admit and the most recent example – which is embarrassing and sadly happens to be true – is that I had a submission via Match.com. I understand Linked-In and Facebook as they are networking sites and I respect an artist who sees an opening and takes it but Match? Really?!
Trust me this can work both ways as I am often times the one who does the “hunting”. There is nothing quite as awkward as telling someone who I am, what I do and why I think we should work together. It’s vulnerable on both sides but the key is to wait for signs of interest. You wouldn’t just rush up and kiss someone on the street after all (well, okay I’ve done that but it has been a while and I did ask first).
I have a bit of an advantage as most artists want to be approached but it still requires savvy. Unlike the singles scene when you can assume someone to be available unless they are wearing a ring, there generally are no markings to indicate whether or not an artist already has an existing relationship with a gallery or dealer. Rejection and disappointment go with the territory but you hope they accept your interest as a compliment to their work and you move on.
My point is that as an artist, curator, or gallery owner there is a public persona that comes with the territory. I don’t think of myself as Sharon the ____________ (fill in the blank), I am just me. Of course this encompasses many different variables. I am a curator, a collector, a woman, a dog owner and someone my friends can humble in 2.5 seconds with “Silly Sharon” stories. We are all multi-dimentional, complex creatures. It’s not healthy to puff up and deem yourself solely as any one of these elements any more than it is to deny them. The tricky part is to know which dimension you have access to and which they are interested in seeing at the time.
I love art, I love artists and my mind never turns away from putting the puzzle pieces together but sometimes I just want to be me. Perhaps my perfect match is someone who I won’t initially see beyond his talent but hopefully if that be the case, he will be wise enough to make those intentions clear.
