Second Lecture in the Series: The Landscape of Collecting
The Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County and Silvermine Arts Center present the second panel discussion in the Cultivating Collectors series: The Landscape of Collecting, to be held on Thursday April 27th from 6-8pm at the Silvermine Arts Center.
The discussion will focus on the education of collectors: sources of information about trends, rising artists, what to look for in artists’ resumes, how to develop and trust one’s own eye, how to gauge an investment, and more.
The lively discussion will be moderated by Evan Beard, National Art Services Executive, and speakers include Marty Baron, art collector; Robin Jaffe Frank, independent writer, curator and former Chief Curator of the Wadsworth Atheneum; Terri Smith, Creative Director at Franklin Street Works; and Dimitri Wright, painter and member of the Silvermine School.
The Cultivating Collectors Series is open to the public and is free of charge; advanced registration is required. https://cc-panel2.eventbrite.com
Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County and Silvermine Arts Center are co-producing a series of panel discussions in recognition of the need to develop and cultivate art collectors in our area, and to help further establish the credibility of Fairfield County as a strong arts and cultural community where art is created, discussed, enjoyed, bought and sold. The series complements a Silvermine Arts Center course currently being offered on collecting.
Jeffrey Mueller, Gallery Director at Silvermine Arts Center, commented: “Collecting is a complex and rewarding relationship between artists, galleries, museums and collectors. In the decade that I have been in Connecticut it has become evermore apparent to me that this is something a lot of people don’t fully understand and how they might take part in it. It is much more than just buying art; it’s a relationship, a potential investment and an emotional experience. With more education, I think more people might find a desire to be a part of the experience.”
Gallery owners Fernando Luis Alvarez (Stamford), Eric Ben-Kiki (Hartford), Fred Giampietro (New Haven), and Amy Simon (Westport) discussed why they located their galleries in the area, how they connect with and cultivate collectors, their relationships with their artists, the impact of the Internet and the rise of art fairs on their business, and the demise of in-depth local critical writing about their exhibitions. The intersection of the local, the national and the global in their businesses and how this has affected their relationships with collectors was one of the most fascinating part of the panel.
A video recording of the panel discussion is available at https://youtu.be/zzZqrVhQSZk
The Cultivating Collectors Series will culminate in May with an art showcase representing local galleries presenting a mix of local, New York and national artists. The Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County supports cultural organizations, artists and creative businesses in Fairfield County through marketing, professional development and advocacy. For more information, visit CulturalAllianceFC.org.