All's Fair

As you know, I am currently working in New York City for my day job as a high-tech consultant. This gig will last the entire month of January and involves me flying to NYC on Monday and back to DC on Friday. I've been making the most of my time there (even if I'm not sharing my experiences here often enough) by visiting Chelsea on an almost daily basis during lunch, attending openings at night (this past Thursday, though a relatively quiet night, was a mess compared to what is typical in DC), and meeting up with some art acquaintances. It's been a real blast... despite having to actually work during the day.

But something about my time in NYC is incomplete. Many times when I've spoken to art people they ask me to let them know when I'm going to be showing in the city so that they can see my work. This is, of course, easier said than done. I want to show in the city and thus far I haven't been able to do so outside of the odd group show here or there. We'll come back to this in a bit.

Isn't it crazy to think that just one month ago there were 14 art fairs held in Miami and in about a month there will be several more held in NYC along with the Armory? It's nuts! And, in my opinion, it's getting to be too much. How long can these go on? But, you know what? I would love to be included in one of these fairs. Many of the world's top art people attend them and it is great exposure... or it can be.

With all this in mind, I've come up with an idea. I'm going to show my work in New York. Think of it as an art show / open studio / mini art fair. Here's the plan:

My company/client is putting me up in a pretty darn nice hotel in the Financial District in Manhattan. It's just a couple of blocks from the WTC site. In my room, I am going to mount a showing of my work. This will take place Tuesday-Thursday, January 16-18, from 7:30-9:30pm. In this "show," I will display a selection of my smaller wood works... there will be pieces from the "Nature|Nurture" show and from the "Framed" show. Pieces will range from 6" x 6" to approximately 24" x 24". I will also have on hand a selection of my drawings though these will be seen as part of a flatfile type of arrangement. All work will be for sale.

Sometimes an artist just has to grab a bull by the horns. If no gallery is taking your work to an art fair, hold your own. If no gallery in Chelsea will give you a solo show, mount your own. If you can't afford a studio in NYC, let your client pay for one. Right? Right!

So here's the deal. Next Sunday (1/14), I will be driving to NYC with my work. I will mount my show on Monday night and I will do all that I can to ensure the cleaning staff stays out of my room that week. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, I will open things up for visitors to come in and check out my work. I hope to meet many of my NYC readers. If you want to purchase a piece, we can do that (cash, check or Paypal are all options... my laptop will be up and running).

The logistics of planning such an event are a bit daunting. I have to get the word out to people that this event is taking place but I have to keep it under wraps so as to not get caught by the hotel staff. I have to communicate to those interested in coming where the show will be since I won't know what room I'm in until the Sunday night I arrive there. This is what we are going to do:

- If you are interested in attending, please send me an email. I will add you to a special email distribution list.
- On Monday, January 15, I will send the group of interested people an email giving you the location of the show (hotel and room number).
- I will not post those specifics on this blog so you must email me to know where the show will be.
- I ask that if you know of anyone who will be seriously interested in attending the show, you invite them yourself, email me their address, or have them email me.
- When/if you come to the show, please do not ask anyone who works at the hotel where the art show is. If you cannot find the hotel or room, I will provide my cell phone number to call me.
- I will not let people into the room much earlier than 7:30 and we will have to leave the room promptly at 9:30pm so as to not disturb the other guests. We can take the discussion elsewhere if we'd like... there are plenty of bars in the area.

Given that there are so many options of things to do in NYC, I want to provide a little incentive for folks to come by the show. The first 10 people that arrive each of the three nights will receive a free print (limit one per person). I'll bring an assortment with me so you can pick the one you want.

I'm excited about putting on this show. It's not a serious affair and it won't include my best work (I'll bring what will fit), but I hope it'll be fun and that it'll introduce my work to a new audience. Like I said earlier, if you have any interest in attending this event, please email me. That's the only way you'll get the location information when it's available.

Oh yeah, the name of this event? All's Fair. After all, it is, isn't it?

Special note to art bloggers: I'd greatly appreciate any help you could offer in getting the word out about this event. We won't want to publish the location information, when it's available, but if people want to email me expressing interest in coming, that would be great. Thanks in advance!

Comments

[Erin Antognoli]

i posted about this and linked it from my blog. i have some readers / friends up there, so maybe it will get you a few people. i think this is such a cool idea, and i hope it all works out for you. good luck!

[Lenny]

Ooooh... good idea!!!

[J.T. Kirkland]

Thanks guys! And special thanks to you Erin for posting about it. Feedback already is quite positive... I'm looking forward to it.

[Andrew]

JT,
Dude. Don't knock your work by suggesting the best pieces are the ones unable to fit in your car. Good things can always come in small packages!

Fight the power,
A

[J.T. Kirkland]

Andrew,

You aren't the first person to bring up that line in this post (a few people emailed about it). What I meant for that line to mean is that I don't consider this "show" to be a real "show." In other words, I'm limited by the space of the hotel room and the work I've already completed. Sure, when I install it, I will do so to the best of my curatorial ability, but I don't want this "show" thought of as a serious, sophisticated affair. We're having fun here while introducing NYC to my work.

Also, I've invited a number of art bloggers to attend and I wanted to sway them from donning their art critic's hats. "For some reason, J.T. opted to install ABC next to XYZ which made no sense at all." That's the kind of thing I wanted to avoid. My response would be, "That's the only place it would fit!"

Lastly, I said the work wasn't my best work. I didn't say it was bad. I'll only show good things... it's just right now I think my best work is too big to fit in the hotel room (though I'll have images of everything and will gladly sell/ship the bigger work to buyers!).

Thanks!

[libby rosof]

Hi, J.T. This is so cool. I'll put up a little post linking to this info, tomorrow, and wish you the success you deserve.
Libby

[dean]

JT;

What a great idea.....good luck and I hope it all goes well....

sorry I will not be in NYC to attend...

[roberta]

Hi JT, very very cool! Libby and I will be in New York Jan. 25. will you be there then? Good luck!

[J.T. Kirkland]

Thanks Libby, Dean and Roberta!

Roberta - Yes, I will be in NYC on the 25th (unless things change with the work situation). Perhaps we can hook up then.

[mark]

Damn, I'm not up til the 25th either, JT, it's a great idea. I hope your stealth show is a great sucess.