I have permission to reprint here an email I got earlier today from an art consultant, Dori Gilinski of the Dori Gilinski Gallery, with "Tips for Museum Goers for Properly Buying Art" ...
Not only good for "museum goers", how about sharing it with all those folks who buy art and follow you? Remember, building that audience and marketing it is a part of your job. Here it is:
Tips for visiting a museum:
1) Slow down. It is tempting to feel like you want to conquer it all and see every piece during your visit, but more can be gained from finding 2-3 paintings that you really connect with and spending time with them. I learnt to really look at a painting on a trip with Picasso expert Christopher Green to the Tate Modern in London – where he instructed his students to pick a painting they liked, and to just stand in front of it for 20 minutes taking it in. The experience of looking at art in this way contrasts hugely with the usual habit of museum goers who dart from canvas to canvas. The average visitor spends 15 to 30 seconds in front of a work of art according to museum researchers. Try to spend 15 to 30 minutes on a special piece to really make the most of your visit.
2) Do your research. Before your visit, check out what special exhibitions may be on for a limited amount of time. Be sure to check out the museum’s website for any interesting lectures or events such as tours led by the curator which could enhance your experience of the visit.
3) Limited use of your phone. Resist the urge to Instagram. As tempting as it might be to share with your followers your visit, try to experience it for yourself through your own eyes and not through the screen of your phone. One of the things that struck me most when I worked for a gallery during Art Basel Miami was how little people actually engaged with the works. The gallery was exhibiting a beautiful Picasso painting of the artist’s lover Dora Maar that merited the attention of visitors, but most people would just snap a photo as evidence that “I was here” and would move on. Be in the moment and take in the art for yourself.
4) If possible, avoid weekends and holidays. You will be able to avoid lines and get the space for yourself without the crowds. My favourite time to go are weekday mornings – or get your culture fix after hours by checking out museum lates on evenings when museums stay open past regular closing time. (Well, this one won't work for us.)
5) Read the labels. These are the notecards usually adjacent to the canvas itself. You will definitely find clues that will help you understand the paintings better. The title of the work could point out themes within the work and the date could help you place the piece within its historical context. Art is a way to study a culture, its history, and what it values - let it guide you in your understanding.
6) Look for the humanity in the work. It is easy for your senses to become overwhelmed when you are looking at so many paintings at once – but try to think of the task of visiting a museum differently: try to connect with the human being behind the work. Try to connect with the man or woman of flesh and blood who put a paintbrush against the canvas and created the piece. Try to get into his or her skin. What was the artist up when he made the painting? What are his fears, his aspirations, his mindset? Do you find resonance with your own life? Use art as a launching pad for self-reflection.
About Dori Gilinski
As a private art consultant, Dori Gilinski has held private exhibitions in London, New York, Panama City, and Bogota. This is her first show open to the public. Dori Gilinski Gallery
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