Does anyone know anything about Amsterdam Whitney Gallery?

[Sharon]

Does anyone know anything about the Amsterdam Whitney Gallery in NYC? They saw my work (don't know where) and invited me to join their gallery. But at a cost of something like $2K per year. They do offer much for that money. It's not a co-op gallery. I dont know too much about the NYC art scene. But I do know CAN was highly recommended to me when I joined here as a very well respected Co-op of which I am very glad to now be a member of. If anyone has any information or knowledge about the Amsterdam Whitney Gallery good or bad I would appreciate your sharing it with me. Thanks.

[gregser]

There are three types of galleries in NY - mainstream, co-op, and vanity galleries.

1. Mainstream galleries keep artists' work on consignment and share the commission when the work is sold. That is how they make money. There is no fee for a show.

Most artists will have a hard time entering a major mainstream gallery.
These galleries deal with established artists, or invest in a select group of emerging artists. That's why it is more realistic to approach a new or smaller gallery. In this case, artists may be asked to contribute for printing of invitations, catalogs, advertising, etc. All this stuff is expensive, and smaller galleries often cannot afford it. It is not uncommon for a gallery in Manhattan to spend on rent and utilities $10,000-15,000 (or much more) per month just to keep doors open.

2. Co-op galleries are usually membership based - artists have to pay a fee and maintain the space to participate in group and solo exhibitions. Contributions vary between about $1,000 to $5,000 plus. While co-op galleries provide artists with an access to exhibition spaces, these galleries often lack expertise and connections to make things work.

3. Vanity galleries profit by renting exhibition space to artists. In most cases, it is rather indiscriminate stuffing of the space with as many works as possible. Fees start at around $2,000 for a group show. These galleries may offer all kinds of services, and sometimes have publications featuring exhibiting artists. While vanity galleries provide artists with an opportunity of a show, they hardly help artists to develop their careers.

So, figure things out before you get burned!

By the way, CAN is not a co-op gallery. First of all, it is not run by artists; secondly, it includes components, which are not part of any gallery, such as lectures given by art critics, workshops and art consulting. At last, though CAN is a membership based organization, it offers much more for much less - at $50 per month, membership fee is way lower than in a co-op gallery.

While CAN is based in a professional 3000 sq. ft. exhibition space, it is not a gallery. It is an organization for artists looking to grow, exhibit, and connect. As far as we know, the first and only organization of this kind in America.
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gregser

http://cannyc.com/

[Sharon]

Hey, gregser thanks for the expedient reply. Forgive my ignorance, how embaressing but no wonder I love it here! A well established NYC artist friend of mine referred me to CAN and mistakenly called it a co-op.

[generalgow]

i learned about the 'vanity gallery' phenomenon the hard way myself. i submitted an application for a show in response to an ad somewhere online (i can't remember where, i cruise the web say too much) and got a response with an offer for a show in new york. then the director would email me over and over with much encouragement and promises for future shows in beijing, new york, and amsterdam.

once i got the concrete offer for a group show in amsterdam and it included fees of $3500, i knew it wasnt quite legit.

it was quite a disappointment, but i learned what to look for and got myself signed to a 'real' gallery since.

i wouldn't be as kind as gregser when describing them as a real opportunity if you know what you are getting into. i would say they are one step short of a scam.

[gregser]

Thank you for your comment. As an artist who went through this experience, you probably word it better.
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gregser

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[ClintM]

Fascinating all round - I appreciate the question and all the answers...

[shaynebrandel]

My studio M8 and myself were both recently accepted for showing at the Amsterdam Witney. I was thinking of dipping into my long term savings to go ahead with sending them some work. The fact that I live in Western Canada would have added about $1000 dollars in shipping costs. I agree that this type of Gallery isn't exactly a "scam", however, if you look at the wording they use to define themselves on the acceptance letter and contract, it's in the very least misleading. Artists that live in smaller communities that are trying to make a living by their art have to take bigger chances when finding representation, as in most cases we have to trust that far off galleries are what they say they are.. These sort of misleading presentations are not only frustrating, they are disheartening.

Break the heart of an artist, and you may just never see that next Picasso or Warhol. They'll have given up long ago.

Thank you CAN for opening our eyes to the small print.

[Frank]

I also was accepted into the Amsterdam Whitney a number of years ago, but with the costs of the "acceptance" I needed to rethink my decision. The letter ws flattering and I have used the comments in some self mailers, but it is not where I am hoping for. I have had some contact with additional mainstream galleries, but the heartbreak is pretty bad when the hopes are up after a few good discussions and then - BAM - we're sorry... we're just not interested at this time. Thanks - This is something I try VERY hard to teach my students at the high school level. It is a VERY hard gig to get into, but it is not impossible. AH CAN - welcome back to a discussion that is fun and interesting... I am still contemplating a discussion on Art and money froma long time back.

Frank
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[alethea]

Amsterdam Whitney Gallery makes an appealing invitation.
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[Frank]

Probably a good and prudent choice.
Frank
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