Gallery Owners’ Primer to the Art Scene

Is there an art gallery etiquette?

“Other than no smoking?” said Rutberg Gallery owner Jack Rutberg, only half seriously. “No, just to be respectful of being in someone’s establishment. In any sensory kind of experience you need to focus a bit, and extremely loud behavior is distracting to someone who’s trying to interact with a work of art. It’s just consideration of others, really.”

Alice Ovsey of the Ovsey Gallery added, “I’m always surprised at people who bring in animals,” other than seeing eye dogs. “I certainly don’t foster that.”

The Price of Possession

The cost of artworks around town can range from about $200 for a small print up to $300,000 for paintings, sculpture or other works. Nearly all galleries keep price lists on a reception desk. Dates, materials and dimensions of the works are often included on these lists.

The question “Do you bargain?” might cause eyebrows to arch. “No, we don’t,” Rosamund Felsen (Rosamund Felsen Gallery) responds flatly.

Most other gallery directors are equally adamant. Betty Asher of Asher/Faure said she gives museums and steady clients 10% off. “But we don’t like to give anything off for a first purchase.”

However, some gallery personnel are open to the idea.

“There isn’t anything in this world that isn’t negotiable,” Rutberg said. “But we don’t price things with the anticipation of someone bargaining with us.”

Jan Baum of the Jan Baum Gallery said, “Yes, there are ways”--which she will discuss privately with customers.

Read Up

A dearth of introductory books on modern and contemporary art can be found at museums and regular bookstores. Here are a few bookstores that specialize in art:

Arcana, 1256 Santa Monica Mall, Santa Monica.

Hennessey & Ingalls, 1254 Santa Monica Mall, Santa Monica.

Hunter’s Books, 420 N. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills.

UCLA and other universities are also fine sources for written materials on art.

Other sources for the novice and seasoned gallery browser are museum catalogues. These are soft-bound texts, written by curators and other scholars, thoroughly illuminating exhibitions’ raison d’etre. They contain reproductions of exhibits’ artworks.

Museums carry catalogues, as does the Art Catalogues store, 625 N. Almont Ave., which sells catalogues from museums and galleries around the world.

Gallery talks are often given by artists in conjunction with exhibitions of their works. Be prepared to take along a folding chair.