Comments on: What kind of opportunity is knocking? http://cdineenferrin.com/blog/2010/01/11/what-kind-of-opportunity-is-knocking/ Conversations with the artist, Cheryl Dineen Ferrin Mon, 30 Aug 2010 13:59:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Libby Mijanovich http://cdineenferrin.com/blog/2010/01/11/what-kind-of-opportunity-is-knocking/comment-page-1/#comment-122 Libby Mijanovich Tue, 12 Jan 2010 15:09:57 +0000 http://cdineenferrin.com/blog/?p=267#comment-122 Cheryl, I have been receiving these requests for awhile and have always simply dismissed them as bulk emails. SOFA is truly the crown jewel and it is tempting to take whatever opportunity is presented. Thank you for taking the time to follow up and get the inside story. And I totally support your decision and wish that more artists would refuse these types of offers and see them for what they are. Your letter states the situation tactfully and professionally. Well done! I will be in the NY area (for another event) during SOFA NY this year and plan to attend in order to check it out in person and see for myself what galleries may be a good fit. Who knows? Cheryl,
I have been receiving these requests for awhile and have always simply dismissed them as bulk emails. SOFA is truly the crown jewel and it is tempting to take whatever opportunity is presented. Thank you for taking the time to follow up and get the inside story. And I totally support your decision and wish that more artists would refuse these types of offers and see them for what they are. Your letter states the situation tactfully and professionally. Well done!
I will be in the NY area (for another event) during SOFA NY this year and plan to attend in order to check it out in person and see for myself what galleries may be a good fit. Who knows?

]]> By: Mandi Ballard http://cdineenferrin.com/blog/2010/01/11/what-kind-of-opportunity-is-knocking/comment-page-1/#comment-121 Mandi Ballard Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:18:54 +0000 http://cdineenferrin.com/blog/?p=267#comment-121 Wow. What a tricky situation. You have made a tough decision and it seems the right one for you. I appreciate that you are sharing this with us. Wow. What a tricky situation. You have made a tough decision and it seems the right one for you. I appreciate that you are sharing this with us.

]]> By: Regina Benson http://cdineenferrin.com/blog/2010/01/11/what-kind-of-opportunity-is-knocking/comment-page-1/#comment-120 Regina Benson Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:10:13 +0000 http://cdineenferrin.com/blog/?p=267#comment-120 Cheryl, Such offers from this gallery have been going on for many years - guess it just reached you recently. There are quite a number of "vanity" galleries at SOFA. Even when galleries do not openly "troll" for paying artists, galleries frequently exact special participation fees from artists that want their work featured at the SOFA,in the catalogue, at presentations, etc. It might surprise you to know how many "legitimate" galleries do that. This has been going on for a long time - it's just that some galleries have started large bulk email socilitations and artists have been becoming more aware of what it takes financially to be "represented" by some galleries in some venues. Regina Cheryl,

Such offers from this gallery have been going on for many years – guess it just reached you recently. There are quite a number of “vanity” galleries at SOFA. Even when galleries do not openly “troll” for paying artists, galleries frequently exact special participation fees from artists that want their work featured at the SOFA,in the catalogue, at presentations, etc. It might surprise you to know how many “legitimate” galleries do that. This has been going on for a long time – it’s just that some galleries have started large bulk email socilitations and artists have been becoming more aware of what it takes financially to be “represented” by some galleries in some venues.
Regina

]]> By: maggie http://cdineenferrin.com/blog/2010/01/11/what-kind-of-opportunity-is-knocking/comment-page-1/#comment-119 maggie Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:10:03 +0000 http://cdineenferrin.com/blog/?p=267#comment-119 Hi Cheryl, very interesting post. you may want to get in touch with Laurie Swim - she has been at SOFA in Chicago through the gallery that represents her Maggie Hi Cheryl,
very interesting post. you may want to get in touch with Laurie Swim – she has been at SOFA in Chicago through the gallery that represents her
Maggie

]]> By: Sandy Donabed http://cdineenferrin.com/blog/2010/01/11/what-kind-of-opportunity-is-knocking/comment-page-1/#comment-118 Sandy Donabed Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:54:21 +0000 http://cdineenferrin.com/blog/?p=267#comment-118 Cheryl- Good for you that you did the research and found out standard procedures for the SOFA exhibit. I've been to several of their shows and the quality of work is amazing. Basically the gallery that contacted you was trying to pay for their booth expenses on the artist's back! It's tremendously expensive to be in these shows, but the exhibiting galleries are there to showcase their current and best works and new and rising art stars, and that's the work that brings in new customers, NOT getting those artists to pay to exhibit. I am especially glad you shared your experience and hopefully save a few unsuspecting artists from such an outrageous offer! Thanks- and may your next offer be legitimate and sell everything you give them! Sandy Cheryl- Good for you that you did the research and found out standard procedures for the SOFA exhibit. I’ve been to several of their shows and the quality of work is amazing. Basically the gallery that contacted you was trying to pay for their booth expenses on the artist’s back! It’s tremendously expensive to be in these shows, but the exhibiting galleries are there to showcase their current and best works and new and rising art stars, and that’s the work that brings in new customers, NOT getting those artists to pay to exhibit. I am especially glad you shared your experience and hopefully save a few unsuspecting artists from such an outrageous offer! Thanks- and may your next offer be legitimate and sell everything you give them! Sandy

]]> By: Jean M. Judd http://cdineenferrin.com/blog/2010/01/11/what-kind-of-opportunity-is-knocking/comment-page-1/#comment-117 Jean M. Judd Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:35:53 +0000 http://cdineenferrin.com/blog/?p=267#comment-117 Hi Cheryl, Thank you so much for sharing this experience and information. You handled it in a very diplomatic way and your research and contacts to check it all out show the rest of us the pathway to follow. Continued Success! Jean Hi Cheryl,
Thank you so much for sharing this experience and information. You handled it in a very diplomatic way and your research and contacts to check it all out show the rest of us the pathway to follow.
Continued Success!
Jean

]]> By: Rosemary Claus-Gray http://cdineenferrin.com/blog/2010/01/11/what-kind-of-opportunity-is-knocking/comment-page-1/#comment-116 Rosemary Claus-Gray Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:02:52 +0000 http://cdineenferrin.com/blog/?p=267#comment-116 Cheryl, thank you so much for sharing this information. I respect and agree with how you handled this request. There will be more opportunities for you in the future. Rosemary Cheryl, thank you so much for sharing this information. I respect and agree with how you handled this request. There will be more opportunities for you in the future. Rosemary

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