Intimidated by curators? (funny story here)

Published: Sun, 05/24/20


If you haven’t watched it, and you’re at home, and you have some extra time on your hands, I highly recommend it.

There is this painful but wonderful scene in the movie where she is dropping a package off to a curator and is in the elevator with her.

(Curator in elevator cued (About 90 seconds long) - Click here for the video)

(Scene- Artist is bringing an open-call submission video to a museum, Artist gets in elevator where the curator is present - Mirandy July plays the artist by the way)

Curator: That’s a limited access floor. You need a swipe card. 

Artist: Ah, I’ll just get off on 2 then.

Curator: You want the offices?

Artist: Actually, are you Nancy Herrington? 

Curator: Yes.

Artist: Okay, ‘cos umm I wanted to show you my art. I brought this tape I thought we could watch? 

Curator: Ughh. Okay. Why don’t you send it to this address? 

Hands her a business card.

Artist: But that’s here. Can’t... can’t I just hand it to you?

Curator: It’ll get lost. It’s better if you send it. 

Artist: But… I’m so close… 

Awkward silence.

Artist: Okay. 

I always chuckle when I think of that scene.

Artists are intimidated by curators, but you know what the irony of that is? 

Curators are mostly academics. They don’t really know why anybody makes art. They’re just trying to figure out how to hang it on the wall and write about it and often sell it.

Most of them are very awkward around artists, because they are intimidated by artists actually. 

Artists are intimidated by curators - they think they are the power brokers. 

And curators are intimidated by artists - because they are the culture makers. 

Curators wonder, “How do they do this?”

A curator couldn’t do that, even if they have a PhD. They can’t make a painting - not even a fingerpainting - you know what I mean? 

And that’s intimidating to them.

To realize that and flip the power table is what you need to do in a studio visit. 

Something else to contemplate: 

When it comes down to it, even the scariest people are human too.

As proof - take Nancy Spector.

She is the Chief Curator of the Guggenheim. She is at the highest echelon of the Art World. She is an exceptionally smart person. 

And let’s be frank, she is quite intimidating too.

I know artists who are terrified of her. 

If you met her at an art fair, and asked her “Can you do a studio visit?” and she said “no”, your blood would freeze. 

She has a very stern, smug look.

But actually she is incredibly warm, and full of life, and has moments of vulnerability. 

Just like every - other - human - in the world.

After I interviewed her for Yale University Radio, she told me she was afraid her words sounded meaningless. 

Genius curator. Terrific interview. Very human doubts.

The question is: How do you use this insight to run successful studio visits?

That’s exactly what I want to teach you on Monday’s workshop (May 25th at 1:00 pm EST):

>>> Click here to register automatically <<<

You will walk out of this webinar knowing exactly: so you feel confident before and after that visit. 

And the best part?

I will lift the hood and show you how to lead the curator by the nose through the visit using the exact method Matthew Barney used with Guggenheim’s Chief Curator Nancy Spector.

(When I interviewed her for Yale University Radio, she told me that this was the exact same method Matthew Barney used to conduct her studio visit with him.) 

Here are some of the other insights I’ll discuss: Alas the clock is ticking…

You have less than 24 hours left to claim your free spot on this workshop:

>>> Click here to register automatically <<<

For full transparency: 

We have more people registered currently than space available in the live session. I suggest registering at the link below, and getting on at least 10 minutes early to secure your seat.

I hope to see you there!

Brainard

PS: The webinar will only be recorded for artists that register, so click the link above even if you can’t make it to the live session.