Gallery Representation!

(Above: Interior of Grovewood Gallery, Asheville, NC.)

One of my goals for 2009 was to find "proper" gallery representation.....a serious retail location specializing in fine art crafts with at least a few years in business, a knowledgeable staff, noticeable advertisements, and an up-to-date website. After a careful Internet exploration, I targeted the Grovewood Gallery and submitted my application by the March 26th deadline for artist consideration. (Submissions are reviewed twice a year.) Unfortunately, I received a rejection letter.....the absolutely nicest one I've ever read. It was very encouraging and actually rather "open ended" too.

Well, I later submitted to Blue Spiral 1 and wasn't the least bit surprised to receive a form letter rejection. Yet, they also enclosed a flier for Asheville's "First Friday" gallery crawl. I went. I found another gallery that looked promising. I introduced myself to the owner. I sent my materials....and the response was....well...."interesting". Something wasn't "quite right".

I don't know what prompted me to call the Grovewood Gallery, but I did. They invited me to mail two small pieces. I did. They liked them. They mentioned introducing my work right before Christmas. The two pieces weren't hung....but were within the public's eyesight. They generated interest....enough attention that the gallery decided to introduce my work even earlier! I got this exciting telephone call only a half hour before my departure for Europe.

While I was gone, Steve had to attend to this important matter. By the time I got home....I had the representation I most wanted! I'm now an exhibiting artist at the Grovewood Gallery!

Steve blogged about his trip to Asheville to deliver my work HERE....more photos too! I am now working on the photos and blog entries for my trip to Sara Lechner's in Austria!