11

I think they had way too many people in that tiny space. It was too crowded and noone except for the artists even wanted to look at the work. Sad and discouraging.

10

I was doing some research before the Inaugural Exhibit and I've been keeping track of the gallery since day one. I just did not trust the lack of communication. I've been checking their page of upcoming exhibits and they were booked all the way through next January 2010. And it just dawned on me that most of the artists on that exhibit were not at all part of the Inuagural exhibit. Some where maybe about 3 but not all of them. Now I'm thinking that the money they asked of us was to get the show of these other artists started and if that is the case then it is pretty screwed up how they had favorite artists in mind since day one and just used all these people to provide the money for their future shows.. 

I also just went on their page and they said that there were so many people at the opening that they had to start at 5. I was there from 4:45 to about 5 knocking on the door and nobody was there. I wanted to see how my work looked before the opening. I always do that on ALL MY SHOWS to make sure everything looks ok and strangely they did not let me in. I don't know I think they knew people were going to be pissed off.
... they also have a comment section on their page saying if you had pictures of the opening to send them in so that they can post them. I was so tempted on saying that my pictures were so freaking crooked that I was embarrassed to take pictures !!

9

The opening night at Art:Raw Gallery was amazing because of all the people crowding the space. The artists' works were a little confused because of the mass of so many works in a little space. But I appreciate the aim of the gallery to give a chance to so many emerging and unknown artist to have their little space in New York City. It wasn't important for me to sell my works there, but it was important to be there and to make a new experience, that is always a good thing.

8

What's happening is that [the owner] doesn't want to send my artworks back, though I had attached a letter to the contract explaining how to do it when I sent the artwork (that means I told them from the beginning). I had also sent an e-mail but got no answer and was a bit worried. No way to talk to them.

Actually I received an e-mail on monday titled: "last call for your artwork before donation" (which should have been titled "first call" actually) in which [the owner] said it would be given at the end of the day if he had no news from me.

I know there are many artists in this show, so I kindly explained to him again, and made him notice that either way, artwork should be sent back before 31-3-09 and that monday was 23-3. He answered: "too late, it's already donated"!

Then I tried not be rude and just said I that I would see with my barrister what I could do. He answered to this e-mail by three e- mails:

-the first one asking how to send the artwork (though he had said it was already donated, see what I mean?)
-the second one (about 5 minutes later) to insult me (I don't give you details, it would be too long!)
-the third one (5 minutes later again) to say that he wouldn't send anything and that if I answered to this mail or wrote to them again or did anything to be in touch with them, he would lodge a complaint against me for harrassment (!!!)

Of course, I was not impressed and answered anyway, asking him to be a little more reasonable and professional, and then he said he would keep my artwork until I come and pick it up and gave me 6 hours to pick it up (From France...)

Then I asked him to keep my artworks and wait until my barrister tells what to do. The problem is that I've asked a friend who's barrister what to do, but doing something legal from France is much to complicated end expensive, and so the only thing to do is to give it up, unless they decide to send my works back all the same. I know they won't because I don't believe they even know which paintings are mine, or maybe they are lost or damaged. If not he wouldn't make problems to send them back.

Anyway, [the first review] helped me to understand a little more who they are exactly. But actually I am not so amazed, as you said "they were red flags, I ignored them." I am used to working with professional people, and they don't behave this way.

7

It is the gallery's responsibility to deliver on what they promised. I too am very disappointed and will be doing more fact checking from now on. When it is over I wonder if there is a value of getting everyone who is disappointed and taking some action?

6

The opening night at Art:raw sounds like a nightmare; how dissapointing to hear about a gallery who doesn't care about the art work or the artists it is working with.

 

I was not able to attend the opening  as I live in Florida but thanks to these reports I will not collaborate with Art:raw in the future.

 

I hope for all of us - commited - artists to only work with compatible galleries in the future!

5

Opening night was a nightmare, I had friends come and they could not get in, so that was disappointing.

The wires on the back were not used, instead they were removed.  I am disappointed with the art that was on floor and that was not professional at all, they were still hanging art when I got there around 6 p.m. or so.

My overall experience was positive, I checked out other galleries and I recommend you do that as well.

I will submit to other galleries in the neighborhood instead.

We paid fifty dollars to be in a show, but it was work and yes they did accept us based on that.

They had soft drinks there as well, but only about 30 or so small bottles and no alcohol, I asked her about that on Saturday since a friend came to meet me there, Sophia, the owner said she didn’t want any alcohol, since people get crazy, wow over a little wine I doubt it.

The website also got shut down, too many hits… did you watch the video stream?  It’s all just heads moving…

She had interior designers there on Wednesday night we learned as well, but I do not know if that is really true or not. I wondered why we weren’t invited to that.