WE are heading into the artworld equivalent of mariner doldrums. becalmed in a sargasso sea of cultural disinterest. An orgy of commerce has already commenced in this 'holy' season but the commerce ain't, as a rule, intangible objects.More's the pity.
In order to ready all you art dealers out there, for the new upcoming art season, I present here, for your edification, Alec Baldwin's infamous motivational speaking scene from David Mamet's Glenn Garry Glenn Ross.
What follows is a tough-love tutorial from a well-appointed super-salesman to a group of down-at-the heels and demoralized second-raters of the selling game.
As Alec would say - LISTEN and Learn!
Merry-Effing-Xmas, Y'all.
By the way if you aren't familiar with Ivan Karp (director of Leo Castelli 10 years and the the Pope of Soho for decades afterwards - where he was proprietor of his own art-schlock supermarket(OK Harris) Ivan was an old-school salesman & he had the meritocratic habit of looking at the work of all comers. There'd be a line of young out-of-town hopefuls trailing out the door onto the street ( like some kind of penitent snake ) looking to have Ivan pass or advise on their work. Woe to the artists he took into the gallery ( he had too many ) as his 'taint', thereafter, was always upon them. Ivan had a flamboyant habit of carrying a pistol (complete with a concealed weapon permit) in the waistband of his sans-a-belt slacks...which when in a particularly ebullient or choleric mood he'd pull out and show-off to the assembled. Ivan swept his gallery's own diamond-metal stoop every morning that he was open for trade. Whatever can be badly said (and plenty was) about the man...there was no doubt about his ability to leave a lasting impression and close a sale.
