Art collecting 101: Hang out with artists

I went to a reception this week to celebrate the opening of "Directions: John Gerrard" at the Hirshhorn.  Stunning images!  The artist attended the reception as well and led a tour of his work and hung around all night answering questions.  It was a great opportunity to have direct interaction with a wonderful artist and understand his work and his process a little better. 

The Hirshhorn's director Richard Koshalek pulled me and my fellow art fanatic compatriot Kelly aside over cocktails at one point in the evening and reminded us that the most important thing when learning about art is to talk to artists.  I could not agree more!  That's why I have been hosting Salon Contra! It's an opportunity to meet cool artists and other interesting people in a social, intimate, and informative setting. 

See a nice summary of the most recent Salon Contra co-hosted with Project 4 Gallery HERE which coincidentally featured an artist who also makes beautiful video imagery, Jenn Figg. (Will post video of the event next week.)

More about Gerrard's show HERE.  The Washington Post's Blake Gopnik writes about Gerrard's show HERE.  As you know, I think reading art reviews is a good way to start a discussion about art, but that is all.  Art critic's opinions are not the final word and every art appreciator should have his or her own experience with the art and form his or her own opinion.

Speaking of art reviews, here's one from Jessica Dawson in The Washington Post about a FotoweekDC show she found interesting: Select Contemporary Photography From the Collection of Lucille and Richard Spagnuolo.

Finally, the Post's Michael O'Sullivan asks "sherpa" Heather Goss of Ten Miles Square for her FotoweekDC top choices.  Although I am not surprised that one of her picks was "Fixation," the Fotoweek event that we are co-hosting tomorrow night, I did think it was cute that he called the event "ground zero for the art party crowd." You really should come by tomorrow night! Not only will you get to see great photography from DC artists, you'll get to meet them too!

See more about Fixation HERE.  Find out the sherpa's other picks HERE.