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Lessons I learned working at an art gallery

henrikkarlsson.xyz

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Re: Lessons I learned working at an art gallery

#11

Post by m463 »

beltranaceves wrote: post #2

Some years ago I decided that, at some point in my life, I would try and involve myself with a gallery or museum. As with all things, it depends, but it seems to me that in such places you can find some of the most authentic and driven people out there. And it's probably quite fun to work with them.

> the most authentic

I have found the most authentic folks are the low-key ones that have a booth at an arts festival or some other show.

I've been to galleries, and thought the vibe was really un-authentic. maybe I've been to the dysfunctional ones. Maybe that it is that galleries are more about something else than the art, more meta. (and they sold art not like this community gallery)

Don't know the reality of museums.

Re: Lessons I learned working at an art gallery

#12

Post by busterarm »

balderdash wrote: post #7

I enjoyed reading this, but I felt that 90% of this person’s experience was simply the result of being a real contributor in an organization with non-existent expectations/completely un-optimized state/no other real contributors. In other words it’s easy to make a difference as a high performer in a low performance organization. Again not detracting from this persons achievements, I just don’t think these most of the…

And if you're this kind of person you can absolutely crush it at certain types of non-profits and NGOs that attract people with a lot of ideas but no work ethic.

At least if you're okay with being the only person with any ambition. Personally I have to flee from those environments.

Re: Lessons I learned working at an art gallery

#13

Post by robertclaus »

balderdash wrote: post #7

I enjoyed reading this, but I felt that 90% of this person’s experience was simply the result of being a real contributor in an organization with non-existent expectations/completely un-optimized state/no other real contributors. In other words it’s easy to make a difference as a high performer in a low performance organization. Again not detracting from this persons achievements, I just don’t think these most of the…

I got a similar sense, especially the section where they talked about needing to build trust before trying to change things. I do volunteer photography, and feel the same way as this article any time I do a shoot for a small organization that has never gotten good photos for their business before. It's super rewarding, but a completely different thing than my dayjob managing a solid team of engineers.

Re: Lessons I learned working at an art gallery

#14

Post by teractiveodular »

balderdash wrote: post #7

I enjoyed reading this, but I felt that 90% of this person’s experience was simply the result of being a real contributor in an organization with non-existent expectations/completely un-optimized state/no other real contributors. In other words it’s easy to make a difference as a high performer in a low performance organization. Again not detracting from this persons achievements, I just don’t think these most of the…

There are a lot more low performing organizations than high performing ones. Even organizations usually perceived as high performing tend to have a few high performing teams surrounded by oceans of mediocrity.

Re: Lessons I learned working at an art gallery

#17

Post by tayo42 »

ranit wrote: post #8
sroussey wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Artists tend to be in art production mode or sales mode. When in sales mode and doing exhibitions, etc., good ones are very responsive. They work for a a year, or maybe several, then there are sales to be had over the corse of a month or so. The work they are selling is finished. Would you work on something for years, and then when the time comes to maybe sell it — not answer the phone?

People that work at art galleries are not artists.

depends on the gallery, some make you work a shift if you want to sell your art there

Re: Lessons I learned working at an art gallery

#18

Post by smgit »

grammarxcore wrote: post #3

I refuse to believe that not answering every single email within an hour is a good predictor of anything other than being glued to your phone. I think extending it to a reasonable amount of time, maybe a business day max, works out pretty well. Sometimes people respond really fast because they’re taking regular breaks and other times they don’t respond all evening because they’re putting on their kid’s birthday party…

All people are not alike. Thankfully. Refer Law of Requisite Variety. Some people live to please.

Once you understand people are very different, the whole story turns into setting teams up such that the right people are in the right role. Ofcourse this is hard to pull off, so there is always drama in any group.

Re: Lessons I learned working at an art gallery

#19

Post by shawndrost »

grammarxcore wrote: post #3

I refuse to believe that not answering every single email within an hour is a good predictor of anything other than being glued to your phone. I think extending it to a reasonable amount of time, maybe a business day max, works out pretty well. Sometimes people respond really fast because they’re taking regular breaks and other times they don’t respond all evening because they’re putting on their kid’s birthday party…

This is not just some art thing. People note it in every field. It's not the only predictor; the author of Chrome reportedly did most of it offline IIRC. But it's a real phenomenon that is robust in the face of the concerns you're raising. There is a wide range of email responsiveness -- even among people who are going to the bathroom and putting on birthday parties and doing focus work -- and it is a helpful predictor.

Re: Lessons I learned working at an art gallery

#20

Post by oseph »

Lovely article! It induced an unexpected feeling of nostalgia for me personally as I previously worked at an large public art gallery. I was part of the marketing team and my role focused mostly on the digital side: web updates and digital signage throughout the space. The description of great artists in the article resonated with me; the best ones where those that truly did it for the art and were surprisingly humble.

That's not to say that all amateur artists are self-centered; I met plenty of up and coming artists that felt like wizened "old souls" without ego, and playful at heart. I think they were just great artists in the making!

Even though it wasn't the most high paying job, it was really fun being part of the visual art heartbeat in a city.

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