Fresh Art Fish

"Readers may be familiar with the recent experiment done by theWashington Post . The brilliant violinist Joshua Bell , fresh from a performance at the Library of Congress with the Boston Symphony, busked for free during the morning rush at a Washington Metro station.
Joshua Bell performs with the BSO (January 2006) Of the thousand-odd passersby, only a few stopped, or even paused, to listen. Small change fell infrequently into his open violin case--the very case that holds his $3 million 1710 Strad. Most were oblivious to some of the most beautiful and difficult music ever written for his instrument. Interviewed after leaving the building, it seems few commuters even noticed the guy in the baseball cap standing by the frequently swinging doors. Thinking back, Bell believes some thought his efforts offensive. The nearby skin mags, shoeshine lady and lotto ticket machine got more attention. View video . "  excerpted from Robert Genn's  wonderful Twice Weekly Letters (July 3, 2007 )

When selling art, context is everything.

The summer of 2003 was a time of "trash" fish made from detritus scavenged from the Lake Huron  beach.  I had a show coming up in the city that Fall and more fish than I could hang.

Maybe like the vioinist, I was curious.  I knew I would not sell enough fish to dent my inventory.  In keeping with the local economy, the price range was $80 to 200. 
A little kid, maybe 11 years old, makes his parents stop, quickly looks up and down the twenty or so fish hanging on the chain-links and guard rail and immediately picks one particularly nice piece.  As he discusses the purchase with his parents, I learn he would be emptying $38 from his piggy bank to buy it and going into debt to his parents for the rest.  When checking the price he asks me one last time.  
I look at my naked wrist and said, "Oops! Time for the Big Sale.  This particular fish just got marked down to $37."
The kid almost peed his pants.
A college student who lives up the road stops several times and after long deliberation, settles on a choice.  It's always hard to pick out something for someone else and she wants a gift for her father, a fisherman who had been ill for a long time.  Able to spare only $75, she needs time to come up with the $150.  She asks me to put it in lay away.  I lower the price to $75.
A couple in a BMW whiz by, stop, backup and get out - resort wear - expensive shoes and sunglasses..  I'm sitting in the shade on the other side of the fence.  They walk up and down whispering.  Eventually, they end up in front of one piece.  The man, balding, is in his late forties, looks like he works out but he's still overweight.
He calls out, "How much?"
I'm thinking, "Shit.  These guys should have to pay a fair art price."  But laid is played, so I yell back, "The price is marked on the tape on the fish."  I know he saw it before he asked. 
He pretends to read it and says, "This one's kind of interesting.  Do you make these?"
"Not personally.  I have a family of illegal immigrants in the shed sweating them out like demons.  I ship them bulk in a container to the Chinese market where all the dollars are.  These on the fence are factory outlet seconds." I think this but I say,"Yep, with my own sandy hands."
He says, "The tape says, two hunnert dollars."
"Yep."
He says,"Can you do better than that?"
"You want me to do better than than that?" I ask as I walk to the fence, reach over and remove the tape.
"Sure" he says.
"Ok.  How about four hunnert?"
"Four hundred  dollars?"  He laughs. "That's not better."
"Sure it is...for me."
"Oh, you're a funny guy." he says.
"Sometimes...but not now"
"No.  I mean can you give me a better price than two hundred."
"I just did. But I'll try again.  Five fifty."
He looks at me, "You're serious."
"Yep, like a heart attack, something with which I am personally acquainted."
"Ok.  My wife likes it.  I'll give you the two hundred."
"Nope.  The price is now five fifty and there's no need to drag your wife into this."
""You're crazy!"
"Maybe. Look, I'm not a local artist.  Here's my card.  Google me. I've had shows in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, France, Mexico, and Japan.  I'm in the D.I.A.  These artworks are destined for a show in Grosse Pointe in two months and that sculpture you wanted will sell for five fifty, a price I'm sure you recognize is low but you could have had it for two hundred.  I hang them on this fence with these ridiculous prices for entertainment. Thank you..   Now, I'm going back to my chair."
He said, "Let's go, Marlene.  This guy's nuts"  They got in the car and sped off in the direction of Harbor Beach.


 

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