Making a living as an artist isn’t always easy and when I discovered an invitation to show my ceramic torsos from a gallery in Montreal in amongst the endless spams peddling penis enlargements and Viagra, I naturally had a closer look.
The opening line from Gallery Gora was quite flattering.
‘’We have viewed your work and would like to offer you an opportunity for an exhibition of your work in Montreal, for the year 2009/2010.’’
Crikey – an outfit in Canada found my work and like what they see! So I returned the compliment and checked out their website www.gallerygora.com. The gallery looks fantastic, it is downtown – they have a huge mailing list – what could possibly go wrong? Hang on a minute. Under terms and Conditions I begin to see the light. They say:
Exhibition Fee
A – Solo Exhibition
– Each artist can have up to 20 pieces of work depending on size- The fee for a solo exhibition is
$2,500.00 to cover gallery expenses. – The first $2,500.00 of sale are commission free.
– The gallery takes a 20% commission during the 3 week exhibition.
Hmm. The gallery is huge – how many solo exhibitions do they open at the same time? Twenty ceramic torsos would probably fill one room their size – not several! And besides, if the gallery gets the money up front before the exhibition – where is the incentive to sell anything at such a low commission? I continue to read the fine print:
Artists are responsible for all shipping fees and procedures to and from the gallery door.
What!
Gallery Gora will take every possible care for the safety of all work; however, Gallery Gora or its staff is not responsible for any loss or damage of any work, during shipping, storage, on exhibit, at art fairs or at associate galleries.
So I am invited to pay $2.500 to cover gallery fees plus transport costs to show my work in a gallery in Canada who will assume no responsibility for the safety of my ceramic sculpture while at the gallery…! Surely covering insurance is a gallery cost…?
I go back to reading spams from the nice couple in Bangalore who wish to sell me harmless herbs to enlarge my male member. They seem quite sane and reliable in comparison.
Do send me a comment if you have had any dealings with vanity galleries yourselves.
Anna
