Blog Post
NO SNOBS ALLOWED
Nicholas Harper • March 23, 2021
It’s true, sometimes the arts can be a bit stuffy and dare I say, even elitist. I’m sure we’ve all had that moment of cringe when reading some arts related article talking about a such and such painting or sculpture that sold at auction in the millions and when we look at the art that fetched the money and notoriety, the first words that come to our mind are “Is that all there is?” In such instances one can’t be blamed for feeling a bit out of the loop, like maybe the joke wasn’t for us or maybe we just had to be there.
Or perhaps you’ve experienced the cold shoulder and raised nose of an especially snooty gallery attendant while visiting a gallery so pristine, and dare I say, sterile, that one could both eat off the floor while simultaneously conducting open heart surgery on it. Believe me, I’ve been there. And as open minded as I try to be when it comes to the arts, nothing sets me off more than a gallery that screams, “you’re not one of us.”
Luckily we’re blessed in Minneapolis in that that’s just not how we roll. I think you could walk into almost any art gallery fresh off the street and find yourself being greeted and welcomed with open arms. Perhaps it’s our midwest charm, the fact that we actually care about each other or perhaps it’s because we don’t ever take ourselves too seriously in this neck of the woods.
Whatever the case may be, that doesn’t mean that the arts can’t be intimidating, especially to someone new. I know I deal with that quite a bit at the Rogue Buddha Gallery. Often times it comes in the form of a friend being dragged in by another friend as they walk by, the one really wanting to see what’s up inside, the other a bit timid and cautious, often times exuding an aura that screams “I don’t want to intrude or maybe this is private space.”
It’s pretty obvious when this is the case and when it happens I go out of my way to make sure they feel welcome and free to roam and ask questions all the while maintaining a bit of space so as to not hover. I’m available, but I’m not pressuring or smothering.
In this weeks episode of Art Wunderful, Katie and Blaine Garrett of Mplsart.com shared their views on buying art for the first time and the value of brick and mortar galleries. A lot of what they said boils down to the simple fact that art and experiencing it and even buying it, should be fun. Going to galleries is a unique opportunity to do something free in a setting that is unlike any other. It’s a great time to meet new people and to do something different, especially if you’re new to the scene.
And buying art, well, it should be equally fun and free of pressure or complications. The only real question that one has to ask about a piece of art is whether or not they like it. And if they find it moves them and speaks to them, well then, they should consider living with it. The more one is exposed to living with art, the more one is likely to see how it effects their lives, in a good way. But really, there is no pressure to like anything or to buy it for that matter. But for those who do, the benefits are sure to make themselves known.
And if you are new to the arts, it’s always great to have a friend who can help guide you or introduce you to things. Knowing what to expect before going to a gallery opening for instance, can really help prime that potential for fun and engagement. Knowing a bit about the gallery, it’s history or the artist on exhibit can all help fuel what is sure to be a great time.
Now perhaps you might be thinking that you don’t have any friends that can help you navigate the local art scene. Well, you’re in luck as that’s exactly how Katie and Blaine approach their website mplsart.com. It’s meant to be your friend in the art scene. A visit to their website will let you know where the galleries are, when they’re open and what to expect when you go by providing information about the various exhibits. You can also visit the gallery websites directly via their page as well if you want to do a real deep dive into that particular venue.
We talk all about this in this weeks episode of Art Wunderful. I hope you can take some time to listen HERE or wherever you listen to podcasts. I also hope to see you at the Rogue Buddha and out and about on the art scene in the near future! Cheers!
Or perhaps you’ve experienced the cold shoulder and raised nose of an especially snooty gallery attendant while visiting a gallery so pristine, and dare I say, sterile, that one could both eat off the floor while simultaneously conducting open heart surgery on it. Believe me, I’ve been there. And as open minded as I try to be when it comes to the arts, nothing sets me off more than a gallery that screams, “you’re not one of us.”
Luckily we’re blessed in Minneapolis in that that’s just not how we roll. I think you could walk into almost any art gallery fresh off the street and find yourself being greeted and welcomed with open arms. Perhaps it’s our midwest charm, the fact that we actually care about each other or perhaps it’s because we don’t ever take ourselves too seriously in this neck of the woods.
Whatever the case may be, that doesn’t mean that the arts can’t be intimidating, especially to someone new. I know I deal with that quite a bit at the Rogue Buddha Gallery. Often times it comes in the form of a friend being dragged in by another friend as they walk by, the one really wanting to see what’s up inside, the other a bit timid and cautious, often times exuding an aura that screams “I don’t want to intrude or maybe this is private space.”
It’s pretty obvious when this is the case and when it happens I go out of my way to make sure they feel welcome and free to roam and ask questions all the while maintaining a bit of space so as to not hover. I’m available, but I’m not pressuring or smothering.
In this weeks episode of Art Wunderful, Katie and Blaine Garrett of Mplsart.com shared their views on buying art for the first time and the value of brick and mortar galleries. A lot of what they said boils down to the simple fact that art and experiencing it and even buying it, should be fun. Going to galleries is a unique opportunity to do something free in a setting that is unlike any other. It’s a great time to meet new people and to do something different, especially if you’re new to the scene.
And buying art, well, it should be equally fun and free of pressure or complications. The only real question that one has to ask about a piece of art is whether or not they like it. And if they find it moves them and speaks to them, well then, they should consider living with it. The more one is exposed to living with art, the more one is likely to see how it effects their lives, in a good way. But really, there is no pressure to like anything or to buy it for that matter. But for those who do, the benefits are sure to make themselves known.
And if you are new to the arts, it’s always great to have a friend who can help guide you or introduce you to things. Knowing what to expect before going to a gallery opening for instance, can really help prime that potential for fun and engagement. Knowing a bit about the gallery, it’s history or the artist on exhibit can all help fuel what is sure to be a great time.
Now perhaps you might be thinking that you don’t have any friends that can help you navigate the local art scene. Well, you’re in luck as that’s exactly how Katie and Blaine approach their website mplsart.com. It’s meant to be your friend in the art scene. A visit to their website will let you know where the galleries are, when they’re open and what to expect when you go by providing information about the various exhibits. You can also visit the gallery websites directly via their page as well if you want to do a real deep dive into that particular venue.
We talk all about this in this weeks episode of Art Wunderful. I hope you can take some time to listen HERE or wherever you listen to podcasts. I also hope to see you at the Rogue Buddha and out and about on the art scene in the near future! Cheers!
TRADE SECRET
This is a photos taken at an early stage of a portrait commission featuring a mother and her two daughters. As you can see, I begin a painting with a reddish tint to the panel and then draw my composition directly on top before applying the oil paint. While I usually have a fairly refined sketch to draw from, when applying that idea to the panel it often changes considerably as I bring the image to scale from the sketchbooks. Until next time, Cheers!
Hello and welcome to this first update. I have made the RBG Blog exclusive to members of the Rogue Social Club. This is where I'll be making updates, posting essays and posting new works in progress as well as works only available to Rogue Social Club Members. I'll be making at least one post per week so be sure to check back often!. I look forward to seeing you all at the first Rogue Social event, the ZOOM HOOKUP on April 4th! Until next time, Cheers!
Everybody needs a break from time to time, even from doing that which one loves to do. Certainly this was the case for me. While I have been honored to have so many people help with the gallery over the years, from interns to volunteers, family and friends, the operation of the Rogue Buddha over the past 21 years has very much been a labor of love and an all consuming vocation for me. And so when the world took a nap, I found it to be a great time to do the same, to shutter the doors and rest my weary self for a bit. But alas, all good things come to an end and break time is over. It isn't exactly true to say that I've been "resting" over the past 18 months. Actually the opposite is quite true. If anything, I've still been hard at work but with more of a focus on my own career. I was honored with a solo exhibit at Gallery 360 which saw the release of a new body of nocturnal landscapes for example. I have also been hard at work putting the finishing touches on my first full length album which will be released under the moniker of Bleak Paris in just a few short days. In addition to that I've been back and forth at the easel, working on commissions and some paintings for myself as well as building an entirely new body of work. This work is sculptural with a painting component. I refer to these works as Tabernacles and they are highly inspired by my best friend and favorite artist, Michael Thomsen. Speaking of Michael, he will be exhibiting along with me in a new exhibit which opens in tandem with a Halloween Ball on Saturday October 30th! The event is called Mysterium. Tickets are now available through this website. If Halloween is your season, and you want a super special experience, I highly encourage you to snag one of the few available VIP Experience packages that we're offering! The package includes a private tour of the exhibit, a three course meal prepared by the NE Social and an exclusive VIP Lounge on the third floor! Lastly, I've also been busy writing. Whether these writings will ever see the light of day is anyone's guess. Perhaps I'll use a nom de plume for that... ;) Speaking of writing, I have crafted a few new episodes for the Art Wunderful Podcast and am looking forward to getting back to the microphone. I'm hoping to release a short episode this coming week followed by an episode that will feature a listening party for the new album release the week after! I also have a number of great artists lined up to be interviewed including Jana Komaritsa and artist, long time friend and now gallery owner, Heidi Jeub. And so my break/un-break is officially over as we once again open the gallery to the public on Oct 30th and thereafter. There may be some changes to the gallery hours and lighter exhibition schedule for the near future as I continue to focus on my own art and music. Who knows, there may be other surprises in the works that will see the gallery taken to new and exciting heights... ;) Hope to see you all on the 30th! Much love to you all and Cheers!