February 23, 2009
second gapingvoid print in the works, or, why i’m not going down the gallery route
[“We Need To Talk”]
[“1 Corinthians 13″]
[“SMS Important Thoughts”]
[UPDATE: Please e-mail me at gapingvoidprints@gmail.com if you want to pre-order, Thanks.]
Well, the plan is to start sending out the Bluetrain prints this week. It took a while to get the right fine art printer in place, and get the silk screens just right. For those who are unfamiliar with the process, we chose the somewhat labor-intensive process of silk screening, so I had to proof the edition and make sure each image was perfect. Anyway, they are being flat packed (shipping tubes could damage the print if people wanted to store them long-term) and hopefully shipped late this week
[“Bluetrain”]
Here are some notes on the next Edition:
1. Above are the three contenders for the next limited edition– “We Need To Talk”, “1 Corinthians 13″, and “SMS Important Thoughts”. The one that rings the most bells win, so let’s hear your comments below, Thanks.
2. Like last time, it’ll be a signed, Limited Edition of eighty-five, plus some artist proofs. Once they’re gone, they’re gone.
3. This edition will retail for $400 apiece. Like last time, we’ll be offering a discount to those people who pre-order before the actual printing– $150 off– so $250 each [Plus shipping & handling]. Except this time there’s an added stipulation– only people who have signed up to my Crazy Deranged Fools Newsletter will be able to pre-order. So if you’re a CDF member, please be watching your email inboxes in the next few days, or feel free to sign up now, Thanks.
4. The print will be silk screened on pH neutral, French-made, archival paper– just as The Bluetrain was. Dimensions will be proportional to the images above with the rectangular ones being about 25“x36”.
5. If you have any specific questions or issues about the edition, I have set up a new email address to handle all the print-related business: gapingvoidprints@gmail.com. Please address all queries and/or issues there, Thanks.
6. WHY THESE PRINTS RETAIL FOR ONLY $400.00 When the Bluetrain went up for sale, a number of people mentioned that they thought it was too cheap. Lots of people think that ‘good’ art needs to be expensive. That used to be true. We are all used to the idea that the web can make things more efficient and cost effective, but there are few products where this is more true than with art. Here’s why:
The art market is set up where there are ‘artists’, ‘publishers’ and ‘galleries’. As expected, everyone along the way needs to make a margin. The artist gets paid for his image, the publisher finances and contracts for the printing, and then markets the prints to galleries. It is a ‘charming’ 19th Century system. Unfortunately, everything gets very expensive. Quickly.
We’ve chosen to self-publish, and sell through the blog, even though I have been approached by many galleries over the years. I just don’t think that people who want to collect my work should have to pay for publishers margins, high real estate prices in trendy neighborhoods, gallery employee payrolls, free wine for the hangers-on, markups on the framing etc. All of these things jack the prices up.
Next thing you know, instead of paying $400 for a print, you’re paying $1500-$2000. Go hang in Chelsea [Manhattan] if you don’t believe me. Sure, fine art is traditionally expensive– it’s a luxury item after all, an indicator of surplus wealth etc– but with the Internet now so evolved, does it have to be this way? I’m not just talking about the old– fashioned, “We passed the savings onto you” angle. It’s more like, since you’ve invested in my work, I owe it to you guys to do my damnedest to see that your investment pays off over the long-term. And that’s more likely to happen at $400, than at $2000; do the math. Even if you’re never going to sell it, even if you got it at a steal, knowing that it’s worth far more than you paid for it makes you feel far better than the alternative. Of course it does.
Is self publishing risky? Sure it is. Am I planning to sell my work for far more than $400 in the long run? Of course. But, I do know that [A] there is nothing like a good deal and [B] the folks who support me early on will, in the fullness of time, be very happy that they did.
7. Yes, I will admit, taking the plunge into the art business is a nerve-wracking experience. Crazy, Deranged and Foolish, I know. I don’t care, frankly. I’ve worked damn hard for many years to get to this point. Fuck ‘em if they don’t like it.
As Always, thank you for your love and support. Rock on.
[PLEASE LEAVE YOUR VOTE IN THE COMMENTS BELOW. THANKS.]
++ “1 Corinthians 13″
“We need to talk…”
Hugh,
Congratulations on the success of your venture. I think you are on to something with your prints.
I do want to point out thought that point #6 offers a very limited view of the gallery system to your readers. Many galleries exist because some works are better seen in person than on the web & because some artists do not have the interest or ability to market themselves as you do.
So rather than brush all of us galleries with one stroke, maybe you can allow that some of us exist to help connect artists with art lovers with all of us taking a commercial interest so it’s viable for both parties. It’s no different than any other market where there can be benefits of having a middle man (i.e. there’s a reason why you have a publisher vs. self publishing your book)
There are some of us out here who don’t look at art as something to show social status — we truly believe it can change our lives and change the world. I’m sorry if you don’t see it that way.
–Amrita
a.k.a. Your friendly neighbourhood gallerist
We Need to Talk — but purple doesn’t work FOR ME
Corinthians, boss. The ‘type’ nails it for me.
Amrita, the gallery system simply doesn’t work for the vast majority of artists. It’s the art world’s worst-kept secret.
But hey, if a gallery can buck the trend, they have my vote
Corinthians. I already mentioned it in another post, not knowing it was up for printing. Corinthians 1000x over. We Need To Talk does have value, but not compared to Corinthians.
“1 Corinthians 13″ The blue background doesn’t work for me.
Hmmmm.… it seems that “We Need To Talk” is inching ahead in the polls.… That being said, it seems there’s enough support for “Corinthians” to warrant an edition of that, as well.
Thanks for the feedback, Everybody.
Keep the comments coming, PLEASE… This is all VERY helpful. Seriously. Rock on.
Hugh
I wrote a short-short story based on 1 Corinthians 13. It does not end well.
Drake: I think it’s interesting that you think “We need to talk…” is more edgy then quoting Corinthians. Compared to Hugh’s many cartoons, “We need to talk…” is run-of-the-mill gapingvoid while Corinthians is far more edgy comparatively.
I think it’s very interesting that SMS has yet to garner a single vote. I always felt like that series was very out of touch with where people were, and made very little sense. Seeing nobody here validate that puts me at ease, knowing I wasn’t the only one who thought it was coming from planet bizzaro.
Oh, and “we need to talk” is my vote.
I would so love to buy the Corinthians one — I will be watching my inbox intently!!
My vote = “We Need to Talk”
And I need to manifest money in order to buy it.
BRAVO!
Definitely “1 Corinthians 13″ — Its a piece of art that will resonate with me both now and in 60 years.
Hugh,
We Need To Talk 32 vs Corinthians 25 — as of right now!
See ya soon!
+1 for ‘We Need To Talk’
So…how much would you charge for the original of any of these?
I stil think there’s a book to be published about CDF business and marketing.
Oh, incidentally, you don’t have to be working very hard to be a CDF — you might just have got your balance right.
Forkin’ beautiful quote.