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Recession hits local Space 1026 Art Auction

Last Friday, Space 1026 opened their doors at 6pm for people to cram themselves in every nook and cranny to get a good spot for the annual art auction.  In years past, supporters, former exhibitors, friends and collectors would have sold their first born children to get a Jim Houser painting.  However, this year when Todd Kimmell took to the mic at 7pm, people were holding their breaths and clutching their wallets while pieces by Ben Woodward, Matt Leines and Alex Lukas went for way below retail market value (not to mention, Shepard Fairey..ouch).

 

Although those artists including Jim Houser remained the top bids of the evening including Bonnie Brenda Scott’s painted deer sculpture – one of the evening’s last bids, it would have more than doubled in years past when artists didn’t have to compromise their rent for buying art.  What was the exact cause of this?  Job losses?  Lack of information?  Loss of confidence towards art investments?  Bidders were a mix of friends supporting friends, arts professionals and local arts enthusiasts in addition to many participating artists who donated.  Although the crowd changes slightly year to year, the bidding methods are always important to apply with generous enthusiasm, knowledge and hopefully, a sense of humor.  My advice for future bidders are as follows:

 

1.  Research the artists.  Space 1026 holds previews of their donated artworks as early as a week beforehand.  This gives you an up and close inspection on your serious bid possibilities.  There are the paintings you like versus the paintings you want to own.  (none of that, “uh, does it match in my living room?”)  If you are interested in purchasing something more towards an investment and have never heard of the artist, look at his or her website, take note of past exhibitions, compare it to their previous pieces and get a local opinion of what others think.  This way, you’re prepared with a little more context and knowledge on what you’re bidding for rather than “something you like”.

 

2.  Get a good seat.  I’m short.  This is not only a huge disadvantage at concerts and amusement parks, but a handicap for when you aren’t seen when waving your arm during bids.  Sit in an area where you will be noticed and wear something bright for the auctioneer to remember you as “that girl who looks like a giant clementine” when you wear your orange sweater.  One of the evening’s best outfits came from one of the volunteer runners, donning a black thrift sweater crocheted with 10 different barn animals.  I was unfortunately, distracted enough by this to pass a couple of bids so perhaps good advice to the runners are to wear clothes that aren’t conversational pieces?  Otherwise, I’m going to bid on your cool sweater…

 

3.  Close your eyes when bidding.  This avoids any conflict when bidding against others.  When you are aware of those people, it can get personal and no one likes the feeling like they’re going to get jumped in a South Philly alley over an oil painting.  Close your eyes and focus on the floor so that when your hand is still up people know you’re just that serious.

 

4.  Save your money ahead of time.  For the financially sensitive – (this is all of us, am I right?) it’s worth making those small sacrifices so that you give yourself a budget amount on what you can afford ahead of time.  This involves packing peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch, fewer wawa runs, and learning to make those popular Indian dishes you love to order on rainy days at home for less.  As long as you know what you can spend, having a clear number leaves your wallet and stress a bit more breathing room.

 

5.  Show off the artwork you won.  This will only increase popularity and attention to the future auctions and draw bigger crowds.  You just want to avoid doing Native American dances after you won so that the bidders who lost won’t feel so bad.  Post it, blog it and tell all your friends to come next year, because prints and handmade editions are becoming rare in this age of digital art and video.

 

Shepard Fairey Print being auctioned off with less zeal than year’s past

view from main stairway of the donated artworks

Caleb Neelon painting held by artist Bonnie Brenda Scott

 

The Space 1026 auction is only held once a year so one should know no matter how much you spend, it’s always going to be well deserved original artwork and you’ll never regret the price paid to support the now 12-year old independent artist run space.  Thanks to Space 1026′s organizers who made the evening possible: Alex Lukas, Meg Kemner, Greg Pizzoli and last but not least, the man of the evening, Todd Kimmell.  For more info and to see a cool video loops of the event, go to www.space1026.com.