The Art of Art Collecting
First-time patron? Start here.
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Art is an envelope into which the artist pours some portion of personal energy then sends it into the world. When viewed by those on the same wavelength, that energy communicates, that piece speaks to you. Just as a library feels hushed, or a place of worship feels contemplative, an uplifting energy emanating from the art infuses a gallery space. That can be yours!
According to John O'Brien of the Dolphin Gallery, “It doesn't matter where you start. The richness in collecting comes from discovering the diversity.” A gallery owner for 16 years, John observes that while area artists have matured, local collectors are “behind in recognizing that fact.” “We have gallery owners coming in from New York City and the West Coast to buy and to arrange exhibits of local works,” he says. “The prices are going to start to go up as a result.”
You might think collecting is only for the highfalutin, but Rachael Blackburn Cozad says it's not. “This is a common misconception,” says the director of the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art. “In the Midwest especially, we are both sophisticated and approachable. People bond over art. I've seen it over and over.”
Like any new activity, gaining confidence in your own eye comes with time. Look at absolutely everything; absorb as much art as you can. That helps narrow the field and define your style.
Where to look is as diverse as the art - restaurants, museums, auctions, galleries, public spaces, artist's studios. The Kansas City Artists Coalition conducts Open Studios every other year. It also has a gallery at 201 Wyandotte. Brookside has an artist-owned gallery called Eclectics. A 16-year-old co-op, its newest member is Audrey Barnhart, who works the shop once a week as does every participating artist. Despite being an acrylic painter, Audrey recommends that new collectors “think outside the two-dimensional box.” “Paintings are just the tip of the iceberg. Open yourself to three-dimensional art options,” she says. She also suggests that you notice how galleries arrange their art, how the pieces play off each other and apply that to your own collection.
Kansas City offers an abundance of art education resources accessible to everyone. The Spencer Library at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art contains everything from art magazines to auction databases as well as knowledgeable staff to help you. The Collectors Forum at the Kemper Museum is invaluable for both new and experienced collectors. Its gatherings include discussions and field trips.
Once you've gone gallery hopping, narrowed your choices and done your background research, what next? It's time to meet the artist. Feeling a bit timid? Don't. Let's say you found an abstract by Seth Smith at The Rice Gallery of Fine Art. You've seen it three times, and it continues to speak to you, so you ask owner Peggy Rice to arrange a meeting. Don't be surprised if she calls Seth from the back room. Many artists work at galleries and would be more than happy to talk about a piece you love. You have that in common.
Seth says he exhibited at The Rice Gallery before he worked there. “It's important to me to talk about my abstracts,” he says. “Not only is collecting the visual aspect of a piece, but the story, the behind-the-scenes aspect of it. People love knowing the background information.”
Not all galleries are harboring your chosen artists, but they can arrange meetings with anyone they represent. Once you acquire a piece, the gallery also can arrange for someone knowledgeable to help place it in the perfect spot in your home. Karen Albert of Leawood Fine Art says, “We will come to your home to hang a piece for you. We try to help people open up their art experience, and we are happy to assist in any way we can. We want the experience to be as easy and fun for clients as possible.”
Karen also notes that the gallery encourages clients to live with a new piece for a couple of weeks before final purchase. From a practical standpoint, once you commit to a piece, unless your collection reaches a value of $100,000 or more, your homeowners insurance will cover it. It is wise, however, to speak with an agent about the art, take pictures of what you own, copy receipts and send those to your agent to keep in your file.
With music, a recording never quite matches a live performance. With art, a reproduction can't quite match an original. Directly sharing the artists' energy is what brings music and art to life.
WEB EXCLUSIVE!Kansas City's Art Resources: Where to Begin Before you burst onto the art scene, checkbook in hand, check out the Art Terms page on the Leawood Fine Art website (www.leawoodfineartgallery.com). Print it and take it with you to the gallery. Hang out for a while, listen to what other patrons say and read descriptions of the pieces to connect the terminology with the piece. Let the staff know that you are on a “field trip.” They will be delighted to help. It is often recommended that a new collector subscribe to art magazines. If you aren't sure which subscriptions will do you the most good, stop by the Spencer Art Reference Library at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. “You may come to the Spencer and sample 650 art periodicals before you subscribe,” says Marilyn Carbonell, head of library services. The Spencer Library carries the largest collection of art magazines in the area (www.nelson-atkins.org/education/Library.cfm). No matter what your interest, the Spencer's well-informed staff can help. You may look at more than 40,000 auction catalogs from all over the world, most dating from the 1960s to the present. Marilyn noted that in many cases, the catalogs have been amended to include a list of winning bids. If you find an artist who intrigues or a piece that speaks to you, the Spencer contains files of articles, bios and gallery invitations on a sizeable number of artists. The staff can help you search online for additional information. The library pays for online resources at the deepest (and most costly) level, allowing you to mine for information deeper than most of us are willing to pay on our own. As with everything at the Nelson, it is free and available on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Local collectors are blessed with not only the Nelson-Atkins but with the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art. Newcomers and seasoned collectors alike are welcome to join the Kemper's Collectors Forum. The Board of Trustees envisioned this resource for its members a few years ago, and it was implemented by Rachael Blackburn Cozad when she came on as Director and CEO. The Kemper's staff organizes discussions and visits to private collections and artists' studios in the region. “They always leave enough time for lots of questions so everyone has one-on-one time with the collector or artist,” says Margaret Keough, Kemper's marketing and communications manager. Everyone loves to talk about the things they collect, and art collectors are no different. The experienced members of the Forum enjoy mentoring those new to the experience. The group is diverse in age, gender and financial capability. Details about membership in the Museum and in the Forum are included at the Kemper's website (www.kemperart.org). Margaret notes that the Forum is an excellent resource for someone starting a collection. “It's a way to surround yourself with art as well as those who know about it,” she says. Joining Forum members in a visit to a collector's home or an artist's studio for a few hours of conversation is a unique opportunity in the Midwest. Talking with current artists about their work should not be taken lightly. Marilyn points out that every collector should take advantage of those opportunities as often as possible. “When it comes to 18th- and 19th-century artists, all we have of their voice is what they might have written or what's been written about them,” she says. “We can help with that.” As exciting as it may be to read what an artist wrote back in the day, it still isn't the same as having a conversation with an artist whose work you collect. For those of us with a passion for emerging artists, an excellent resource is the Kansas City Art Institute (www.kcai.edu). Students display their work at an end-of-semester exhibition and sale. Not all pieces are for sale, but if you find one that speaks to you, the artist may have other works that he or she will sell. Contact information is always provided. Groups of KCAI students often display at one location or another at First Fridays in the Crossroads Arts District. The Institute specializes in ceramics, fiber art, paintings, sculpture, photography and print making, so the opportunity to “discover” an artist is there for you to make. Kansas City is full of artists to discover and resources for you to investigate. Enjoy! |
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