Bringing Toys to Art Openings
|I spotted this photo of Gary Baseman signing his Two Tone Dunny during Saturday’s art opening for Walking Through Walls at Jonathan LeVine Gallery. It immediately struck me how tacky it seemed to request an autograph on a Dunny at an artist’s fine art opening.
In 2009, I read Brandt Peters‘ request that fans not bring toys to his fine/formal art shows. At the time, I recall my first thought being: “what a dick thing to say!” But in these two years of “wisdom,” I’ve come to actually understand and respect his viewpoint.
I can’t really explain what accounts for my change in perspective, but the thought of approaching an artist at his/her art opening and asking for an autograph on a $10 toy makes me feel…uncomfortable. My initial reaction to the “don’t bring your toys” request was to be defensive: “What? Your toys aren’t ‘art’ enough now that you have paintings in a gallery?” But now I see the error in that. Artists want to grow and also to enjoy the few-hour opening reception that is the result of months or years of making art. It’s not about toy art vs. 2D art, but rather about being involved in the current artistic undertaking. Chances are, Peters et al would feel similarly unhappy for a fan to bring in a painting from a previous solo show, but that is less likely to happen. The real issue is that many of us coming from toy collecting are not versed in the accepted practices of gallery behavior. It’s not appropriate to foist a toy (or probably, anything) at an artist during an opening. We as fans need to grow, too.
“Don’t bring [toys] to an [art] opening. Bring them to a signing,” said Gary Baseman this morning. The catch-22 is, once artists become more popular on the gallery circuit, will they continue to do toy signings?
What do YOU think?
I’m in the same boat as you, Jeremy; when I first immersed myself in this world I didn’t understand why artists didn’t sign/sketch at openings, but after attending a few myself, it was evident immediately; this is a time to view and enjoy an artist’s work and meet them as people. It’s also a time where they get to relax and connect with fans and friends. I’ve had artists offer to sketch for me at openings — much to my surprise — but this should never be an expectation. If you choose to bring anything at all to the show, make it a handshake.
I’d say leave the signing for the signings, an artist spends a lot of time prepping for a show and at the opening I’m sure they just want to meet their fans and take it all in. Also take into consideration that an artist may feel drained creatively, mentally and physically from putting in so much work for that show, just hang out, have a good time and admire the work along with everyone else.
i’ve never understood the fascination with getting things signed. I could be wrong but I feel like this might be something unique to North American culture.
I mean, if you saw Al Pacino at a movie premiere would you walk up to him and say “do scarface.”
or if you bumped into Thom Yorke at a gig. Would you shake his hand and say “Sing Karma Police.”
No, because it’s rude and tacky. No artist in any field should be subjected to feeling like they owe people something all the time and without exception. That kind of response is only expected from trained monkeys when someone hands them a banana. And even then, at least the monkey gets to keep the banana.
Now that i’ve given it a little more thought, I can pinpoint why I feel the way I do about the culture of ‘signings’ and sketches.
I think the behaviour of getting things signed, or even sketched, is something more rooted in celebrity than in art. I think that’s why it makes me feel so uncomfortable.
It really has nothing to do with the value of the art but is merely symptomatic of a culture obsessed with getting ‘closer to’ or ‘claiming their piece of’ someone famous.
Leave the stuff at home. An opening is a different beast entirely than a signing. That said, I wouldn’t even be comfortable bringing a Dunny to a signing unless the signing was for the release of that specific figure. I’ve got a hard time thinking its “ok” to waste an artist’s time asking them to doodle or sign something that isn’t what they’re their specifically to sell. Seems tacky to ask.
I also sympathise with artists that don’t doodle to begin with. Painters or digital artists who don’t usually take sharpie to vinyl may feel put on the spot to do in a 5 minute instant what they usually take hours to perfect on the easel.
I have mixed feelings on this topic, but one thing I’m sure about is that with the Cackle Factory press release, they come off as total douchebags. Why would you make your fans feel bad if they had brought a toy for you to sign at your last opening? Don’t most fans want to let the artist know that they support their work? Openings are supposed to be more of a celebration… as a way for the artist to interact and socialize, it’s not a formal viewing of the art (if you want to formally view the work, ask for a preview if you are a buyer, or go see the show the day after the opening). Now it could be (as I’ve never been to Brandt Peters or Kathie Olivas opening), that when they have art openings… EVERYONE wants their toy signed – to a point where it overruns the show. That would be understandable, but then they should have stated that instead of offering to sign their toy at a later date on the other side of the country.
oh, and one more thing… if you think bringing toys to gallery openings is lame, maybe you should stop making them (disclaimer: ilovemygarybasemantoysbtw and i’ve only brought flat objects to get signed at shows, i.e. books or a header card)
I’m interested in what @themoodydoom brings up: Is this whole (occasionally tacky) desire to get stuff signed not as present in the world outside North America? I’ve certainly been guilty of doing it. And to answer your question, YES, people probably do go up to Pacino and ask him to “do Scarface”… I bet less so in New York than LA though…
I don’t think there’s much a debate on etiquette from the crowd perspective. As emphasized by the movie star example, such an approach is a ballsy, vain and potentially idiotic action – how it plays out all depends on the celebrity. I respect Gary for adamantly stating how he feels, but he probably wouldn’t have to if he was a single-media artist. If artists didn’t want their projects segregated into different worlds, they wouldn’t bother branching out in the first place.
With art toys, certain things are best left to signings and conventions. But in an industry that’s something of a gateway from collecting to customizing to creating legitimate stand-alone art, the line is always going to look a little blurry. Thanks for your thoughts on the matter.
I personally would not bring a toy to an art opening but I won’t begrudge someone who does. It does come of tacky but is the price of having popularity. Is it that much different than signing a gallery card or pamphlet for the show? I think it is in a sense but most artists will sign with a smile on their face, whether they mean it or not is another thing. On another note I am trained to do things for bananas.
These are all interesting answers and replies to this topic…
A balanced answer might have been that they have their reasons… but that wouldn’t be dramatic enough…
Now, I know it sucks, and I am truly sorry when I ask at times for toy fans at gallery openings to not bring toys to an event… The answer is that we have had many, many toy fans show up at gallery shows and inundate gallery patrons and viewers and this in turn brought complaints from the painting side of our collectors – just like you as a toy fan, who are annoyed when you just can’t come to a show and have a toy signed…
So, the honest truth is we can’t make everyone happy and we are truly sorry about that, we still try… it crushes us when someone shows up late and we have to go, it sucks when someone misses out because they can only come to a single event… this happens at times and occasionally it is the case. Many times it’s cool and we are understanding and take care of that fan. Sometimes we just happen to have plans and this is why we set official times for signings or receptions so we can be with family afterward or friends that we haven’t seen in a long time… all very reasonable right?
We always take care of our fans – we send sketches, signed free toys, postcards, prints, shirts – so please sir, don’t criticize me for being a douche bag to my fans – I am a douche bag for entirely different reasons 😉 just ask my friends and family. (LOL)
I/We actually have very cool relationships with our fans – We are well aware and know their support directly and their direct connection to our work and we take that very seriously. I am very respectful of that relationship – Now you could ask them (we have an entire message board for our fans to connect with us)… and since you have never been to my or Kathie’s shows… you could also go and experience them firsthand and then criticize our methods afterward… Any of those direct experiences would allow our decision to make much more sense, vs.- I mean it’s cool to have such simple replies and thoughts – but there is much more to it and deserves to be a sphere of a question, vs. a flat circle perspective.
Funny enough, I am the worst rule setter, as many times I break my own rules… as many fans asked me in the gallery during the reception if I could sign on a break or after the opening – I believe I it was cool and I took many up on that offer… Some ended up flipped on Ebay (they were selling a signed toy during my show). Now some after that event showed up at my next NYCC event and waited patiently, many waited a full year and signed at another Southern California event SDCC… 99% of these fans respected my request – but still a very small group insists that I may be an ingrate, because a fan should be able to get whatever they want, whenever they want, however they want because that is the price of fame??? That doesn’t sound like a respectful artist and fan relationship – that sounds a bit co-dependent, controlling and narcissistic as far as relationships go – and in no way is that fair, or balanced for any type of relationship, fan or otherwise. Artists have to set their boundaries… Otherwise what would stop someone from showing up at your doorstep one day?
However, maybe that is the honest truth, we have a lot of great fans that want to connect directly… but it still shouldn’t stop us all from trying to be bigger than that, respectful, able to see a bigger picture, being kind and patient – not making everything about YOU… understanding that there could be a very, very legitimate reason why I asked in the first place. Still at times it sucks… but as you say the price of fame… I say, “such is life” you don’t always show up at the right time nor always have an ideal moment… Thank you to those that waited patiently and were cool… we had a great time that night! Sorry for the long rant.
Ok… that is a great answer and I can understand why you do not want people to bring toys to the show. I have been around your signings and see globs of people getting things signed and always see happy people showing off their sketches.
I’m not one to rush judgement of people… but I was just stating my knee jerk reaction to the press release (even Jeremy initially thought it was “a dick thing to say”). I think it could have been worded differently.
I also want to criticize everyone else who posted in this thread. I think they miss the point as to why you don’t want people bringing toys to your openings. Thanks for the reply. 😀
personaly, if anyone brings me anything to sign , anywhere I take it as a great compliment.
I appreciate the enthusiasm and support of people that enjoy my stuff, whether its a 5 dollar toy or a huge expensive piece.
they all deserve a sig.
Yeah, total compliment! I don’t mind if someone brings a toy for a quick doodle. You can tell right away if someone’s genuinely into it, or just getting the sig or doodle for a quick buck later. Like when they bring more than one, or I see it on eBay afterward. That shit is really annoying.
I don’t know about all this signing stuff, but that outfit Gary Baseman is wearing is just absolutely baller. He looks like a turn-of-the-century pimp. Matching custom tie and scarf? Custom smoking jacket with monsters on it? Bravo, Gary!
Signing artwork at openings clearly means different things to different people. And it may mean different things to the same people at different times, you know, like how sometimes you change your mind about something?
If you are having a show and don’t want people to bring stuff for you to sign, why not just say so on your announcement? Kind of like how you say “no presents please” on your birthday invite. It’s inoffensive and your fans will feel informed about your event.
If people ask you anyway, you can decline politely or maybe surprise yourself and enjoy the moment without the scene monitors getting on your case.