There Is No Such Thing As "Recession Art"
by Jayne Behman
Arts Obispo's annual Open Studios' three consecutive weekends event just ended. Over 220 artists, anticipating sales, opened their private working spaces to the public. Artists I interviewed reported good and bad news. They all agreed that the foot traffic wasn't steady or in abundance. However, those artists that did sell their work were grateful for the business.
SLO Art Center's 2009 Plein Air Festival netted more than $33,000. Over the week long event 19 paintings sold at the Collector's Party and gross sales exceeded $19,000 from the Quick Draw live auction. Gallery sales were slightly down from last year, but total gross art sales from this event exceeded $65,000 compared to $61,000 last year – and that with fewer artists participating.
Over the past year, we have witnessed the closure of many fine art galleries and have listened to reports that museums are in a financial crisis.
Fiona Blue Gallery
In Morro Bay, two fine art venues are slated to open in 2010 and Rowan Chase's business decision to double the size of Fiona Bleu Gallery a year and a half ago was a good one. He has no regrets. In fact he's expanding again, by adding a store to his website, instantly increasing his virtual foot traffic by the thousands. However, the question remains, will art buyers purchase fine art online? Convinced they will because of today's growing trend to shop online, Rowan is increasing his stable of artists and inventory without increasing additional wall or floor space. Specializing in the sales of prints, Rowan can fill purchase orders without investing in hard costs. But, will this expanded online presence increase this gallery's sales in original works of art?
The Vault Gallery
I spent several hours watching the foot traffic in Cambria at the Vault Gallery at 2289 Main Street. Located in this 1300 square foot location since 1991, the Vault Gallery has taken over the neighboring space, the now closed Sunfire Gallery, expanding its floor space to 2100 square feet. Is this a risky step in this time of financial slump?
The Vault Gallery
"During the Gulf War we were in the same financial crises as today," says Laylon, the gallery's owner. This gallery's financial success is due to her - she, who simply goes by "Laylon." There is no last name. She's quirky, direct, hands on, and very business savvy.
Specializing in local arts paired to her collectors' needs, this fine art gallery's rock solid and highly polished reputation is built on Laylon's hopes, dreams, energy, and vision. She says her choice to expand this retail space "has been the best decision."
The additional space has allowed her to add inventory designed to capture every potential dollar that walks through the door. Laylon prides herself on the anticipation that everyone who enters her gallery can afford to buy something. It is her intention to appeal to all price ranges and to see that her retail items have a mass appeal. Alongside spectacular paintings that are for sale for thousands of dollars are silver tea pot wind chimes or woven scarves.
With this focus, the fine art you see in this gallery is not necessarily cutting edge. The abstraction art she includes has figurative anchors, such as written words and/or identifiable forms, which cause these paintings to have a more widespread interest. There are no Hans Hoffman or Jackson Pollack-like, nonobjective canvases here.
It is safe to categorize the art at the Vault Gallery as having a contemporary flair. Laylon prides herself on not being an artist. Not only does this mean she can devote her energy 100% to selling the art, she also doesn't take on the responsibility of choosing her artists. She says she doesn't trust her taste. Instead, she says she relies on the recommendations of potential artists by her collectors and existing stable (who include her husband J.C. Whittiker, a British painter and Arthur Trust, the world renowned photographer, who sets the gallery's tone). Her formula works - art is selling. The visual images here are inspiring, not only to the potential buyers, but also to visiting artists.
With wages sinking and savings evaporating, you might think art lovers would be hesitant to expand their collections. This is not necessarily true. The good news is that prices for original works of art are becoming reasonable as the artists begin to discount prices to generate sales.
Art works should be purchased for their aesthetic, rather than their economic value. There is an urban myth that fine art and antiques are recession-proof. This is wrong, even if you own a painting by Lucien Freud, the highest paid living artist. Buying art is a luxury purchase, regardless of the global financial atmosphere.
In spite of hard economic times, artists make art. That's what we do. In times of economic recession, art lovers have an opportunity to purchase original art work at reasonable prices. Maybe the definition of recession art is "the deal of the century."
November Art Happenings
October 1 through November 25, 2009. Daily 11-6, Sun. 11-5, Thurs. 11-8.
Lens to Image; The Photo Journey; Showcasing the Photography and Digital Art of Catherine Archuleta, Randee J. Ward and Mike Vieira.
The Gallery at the Network, 778 Higuera St., Suite Bm San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. (805)788-0886 Dotty Hawthorne
The Gallery at the Network continues their 2009 celebration of ten years of successful gallery ownership by highlighting the creative work of our gallery artists. Continuing through November 25 we are featuring our artists working in photography and the digital arts.
Catherine Archuleta’s work is well known and loved for stunning photographs of local scenery as well as exotic lands and distant shores. Her work has been exhibited and published widely in private and public spaces.
Also featured are the creative expressions of Randee Ward. Combining her passions of drawing, photography and nature, she offers a unique and creative blend of mixed media; photography and hand art. On occasion she offers digital and photographic work in multiples. But, regardless of which type of work Randee presents, she has a style that has become recognizably her signature.
Newest among our gallery artists, we are featuring the outdoor photography of Mike Vieira, a California native who specializes in photographs of the Central Coast. With each eye catching photograph he adds thoughtful comments or poetry on the back of the piece.
Please join us for an artist’s reception during ART AFTER DARK on Friday November 7, from 6-9 pm to meet the artists. Refreshments will be served.
 
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Send email Jayne with any questions, ideas, and your calender of events to Jayne Behman.
Visit JayneBehman.com
A professional artist for over 42 years, Jayne earned her BFA at UCLA and is completing her MFA at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Her artwork is represented by galleries in the United States, including three locations along California's Central Coast.
A lecturer and educator, she is active in the local art community and writes for various publications. Her published book, " Art Matters," is a visual art education tool being used in public and private elementary schools throughout the United States as well as by many Children's Art Museums.
"Poe" by Dana Kim Hixson, is a 5X5 inch Icon Image - part of OPAG's ICON showcase.
NOVEMBER ART HAPPENINGS (continued)
October 29th - November 13: El Dia de Los Muertos at Arts Space Obispo
Paintings by John E. Garcia y Robertson and Mark Bryan will be on display. Lecture by Oaxacan weaver Felipe Hernandez Vicente. (A reception will be held 6 - 9pm, Friday November 6th ).
November 1, 3pm: Artist's Talk
SLO Creamery 570 Higuera Street, ste. 165, San Luis Obispo
November 3: Miniature Paintings
The OPAG Members Icon Show takes place November 3rd through November 28th in the McMeen Gallery of San Luis Obispo Art Center. Reception Friday, November 6th, 6-9pm. Over forty 5x5 original canvases will be on display, all for sale at $55 each. Celebrate this minature show and begin or add to your minature painting collection.
November 6 - December 13: Student Art Scholarship Show
The Morro Bay Art Association is hosting the annual Student Art Scholarship Show, opening November 6th with a reception and awards presentation on Sunday, November 8th. The show will continue through Sunday, December 13th. Last year over $10,000 in prizes were given in watercolor, oil, acrylic, ceramic, photography, and sculpture.
November 9, 3-5pm: Watercolor Techniques & Art Scholarship Show
Morro Bay Art Association, 835 Main Street, Morro Bay. Kathy Miller will be the guest artist at this program meeting. Kathy will be demonstrating watercolor techniques and discussing plein air procedures. Everyone welcome. For more information call (805) 772-2504.
November 30, 8pm: Glassblower Dale Chihuly
Monday at the PAC in SLO in the Alex & Faye Spanos Theatre. Dale Chihuly, the world's best-known creator of glass art, will discuss his work in a special free lecture. The PBS special about him, "Chihuly Over Venice," brought the art of glass to homes around the globe. This event is open to members of the local community and Cal Poly students and faculty.
November 21, 1-5pm: Flagbook Workshop with Sue McKee and Meryl Perloff
Laguna Lake Mobile Home Park Annex Room, 841 Pepper Street, San Luis Obispo 93401. The Flag Book Form is one developed by Heidi Kyle that offers a wide selection of expres sions . We will combine mixed media techniques with book arts to produce an interesting example of your skills and imagination in an afternoon of exploration and invention among friends. Cost of the workshop will be $30/person + a $5 materials fee. For further information contact Sue: 544-1760 or Meryl: 544-4554
October 24th - November 25th 4 - 6pm: Minature Showcase of Artwork
Connie Rohde's THE C GALLERY , 466 Bell Street in Los Alamos (805) 344-3807 follows suit with a minature showcase of artwork up to 6x6". The genres of work include paintings, wax creations, animation caricatures, sculptures and wood carvings to needlepoint, rug hooking, and hoops of linen with buttons and embroidery.It was young artist Alissa Massey's encaustic collection of miniatures that motivated the show's theme.
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