Something I have noticed while working in an art gallery: Art brings out the pompous, know-it-all in some people. Often times, this makes them appear like a blithering idiot (Harry Potter insult). Maybe I just don't know these people and they are actually like this all the time, but it sure seems like a lot of people come into the gallery and feel like they need to explain everything to the poor people in their insufferable company.
"Now this artist, he has mastered this technique. . . you can tell where he has done blah blah blah blah . . ."
"This painting here, it is obviously of the Grand Canyon." (Not a painting and clearly labeled "Cedar Breaks")
"This one, this is obviously a Jim Jones." (Not a Jim Jones - you have to be alive to be invited to participate in an Invitational)
"The gallery was named after this artist here." (No, the gallery was named after the building it is located in, and that building was named after the man in the giant painting you obviously missed while coming in)
"This is a photograph, but the artist enhanced it after it was printed by adding watercolors." (Nope, just a really crappy printer. You also might read the label, which reads "photograph," not "watercolor and photography" or "mixed media.")
Besides these conversational wonders, people act so snooty when they come in. Maybe its the inherent nature of those people who care to venture to art galleries, but seriously? These people always talk like the artist personally told them about how the art was created. "It was done like this." The assurity in their voice is astounding, especially considering how often they are wrong." And they always seem to act like they are so much better than me. You can acknowledge my existence when I welcome you to the gallery. You can at least look at me. Maybe if you did acknowledge me and ask me a question, you could find out that everything you're saying is wrong.
I know this sounds like a lot of complaining, but mostly I just wanted to document these rare treasures.
"This piece here, it speaks volumes. What is the figure a captive of? His own desires? Western society?"
Thanks for that.
Also, who in their right mind touches the artwork at galleries? What kind of pretentious idiot thinks that they get that right. I truly do not get it. The sad thing is that it is 90% adults who do this. Kids are actually smart enough to understand that they don't get to touch the expensive, shiny stuff. But adults feel privileged I guess. It's even worse when the person is an artist and works in the same medium. If you think you can make it, surely you have the right to pick it up? I don't know, I don't get it.
UPDATE
Something else that boggles my mind about when people coming to an art gallery is the shock factor (which, really, shouldn't exist). Apparently, when people think of art galleries, they think of finger paintings and happy trees or something. "Let's bring our four-year-old!" Unfortunately for these unsuspecting parents, university art galleries are not filled with finger-painting and happy trees. In fact, sometimes we have nudity. Gasp! Nudity!! Can you believe it? (watch this come up under a Google search of "nudity" haha that would up the reputation of my blog). I am just baffled when people bring their kids in, walk around for a minute before they see the nude figure painting, and then rush their kids from the gallery, giving me looks like I am a pervert or something. Hello? UNIVERSITY gallery. We offer a life drawing and anatomy course here. People. Paint. Nudes.
I guess they think that we shouldn't hang something like that in our open-to-the-public gallery. Well, angry moms, there's this little thing called the First Amendment. Maybe you've heard of it? It's in the Bill of Rights. It basically means that we can't prevent anyone from hanging what they want in here without some serious ethical and legal issues coming up. Trust me, artists who paint nudes are well aware of their Freedom of Speech rights. We legally cannot prevent this.
So there you go, reasons why working at an art gallery can be almost as frustrating as working at a gas station. Almost.
UPDATE
Wow, apparently the summer is a gold mine for people coming into the gallery doing really obnoxious things. It's been a whole year since I posted this, but I have more to say.
Right now, I mean, literally as I type this, there are two very strange creatures in the gallery. I mean, strange in just certain ways. Of course, they are your typical, presumptuous know-it-alls who hang out in art galleries on Saturday afternoons, but instead of making asinine comments about "how well they know art." They are just condescendingly ripping every piece they walk by. It's kind of awesome, actually. I mean, yes, it is horribly disrespectful to these great people who exhibit in our gallery, but it's a nice change from the regular asinine comments.
(About a piece meant to parody "Tangled" by showing a women wrapped up in a gardening hose) "What is she, stupid? She gets herself all wrapped up like that for show? She dressed up to go get tangled in a garden hose?"
(Looks at price: $3,500) "Pssssh"
"Where would you even hang that?"
"Sandy beach where you take the kids and the wind blows so bad they can't see anything." (?)
I guess the best thing about that is watching their relationship dynamic. It seemed to be a fun outing for them to go out and make fun of stuff together. To be rude. Together! I'm glad they found each other. Heartless people, in love forever.
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