Editor's Note: In the process of researching Gallery Guichard for this gallery spotlight, we asked Andre Guichard to contribute to the blog. So before he uploads his first post, I wanted to give a proper introduction about Gallery Guichard and give a sense of his gallery and role in the Bronzeville art scene, and beyond.
When talking about a Bronzeville art gallery, it's easy to delve into the issues that have been swirling around about the lack of critical attention that is paid to South Side art. But I'd like to put all that aside for just one post and just look at Gallery Guichard as an art gallery - not an Afrocentric or Diaspora gallery - but as a successful fine art gallery that sells contemporary art and has achieved great success in just four years.
Paul Klein is writing a series about art collecting for this blog. In his introduction to collecting, he recommends buying from art galleries, but I questioned him on how a new collector could get started if they only want to spend around $300 on a piece, when most River North gallery artworks begin at $1,500.
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This is where I see Gallery Guichard filling an important role for people who are new to collecting, or have been buying art for a long time. Gallery Guichard is a big, three-floor gallery. Prices begin very low and range to about $3,000 (though a few pieces are quite a bit more).
Ted Ellis
The exhibit I attended was their first solo exhibition, and featured Calvin Coleman.
Coleman's original, warm-hued, figurative and abstract paintings could often be acquired for under $500. During the Thursday night preview, the Guichards took a few moments to welcome everyone with a toast, and try to introduce the staff - except everyone was running up and down the stairs writing up sales.
Calvin Coleman gave a very personal artists' talk, and as he described the trip he and Andre made to Toulouse, France, and you could tell how close the two men are, and the excitement they felt in bringing the work overseas. Coleman, who shows at several galleries around the country, is sold out. "I have nothing in my garage", he says, looking slightly concerned. "Everyone was asking for more, and this show cleared me out." He creates over 200 paintings a year while raising his children solo.
It's not just the prices or accessible artwork that makes the gallery successful; Andre and Frances Guichard, and their partner Stephen Mitchell, have the qualities that all good art dealers share. They personally welcome everyone who enters the gallery, build relationships with their customers, and serve as art consultants for people in their neighborhood, surrounding areas, and throughout the city.
Guichard Gallery is actively engaged with the Bronzeville business association, and host a annual summer art festival in Bronzeville called Art Di Gras. They will also be providing an art exhibit for the Urban League's conference at McCormick Place on July 29.
The Guichards are a lovely couple, creating a gallery setting that is warm, approachable and accessible, and they remove all the elements that can make a gallery intimidating. The opening feels more like a cocktail party with friends than a stuffy art opening.
By the time I left the preview opening, all the works on paper had sold out, and after the opening weekend, over 50% of the work was sold during a gallery reception that took place during a torrential storm and tornado alert.
Sometimes art dealers get a bad rap, to the extent that even the word "dealer" is starting to be replaced with "gallerist". But good art dealers make house calls, they get to know the likes and tastes of their customers, and that helps collectors save time and effort when trying to find a piece of art that's just right.
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Tags: bronzeville, galleryguichard
