Notes on Collecting Photography
Gallery 44's "Salon 44," Opens Tomorrow
I think about collecting a lot—this probably isn’t a surprise to anyone who’s been following this newsletter since the beginning. What motivates people to collect? Why have I formed a relationship to collecting from such a young age? How can I introduce people to collecting Canadian art? Recently, I have formed a new hypothesis to a couple of these questions. But first, let me back up a little bit.
Last year, two things happened: I realized I had no photographs in my art collection, a gap I sought to rectify immediately, and I was asked to co-chair Gallery 44’s annual fundraiser, Salon 44. I reached out to Mark Sommerfeld and asked if I could purchase an image that caught my eye on his Instagram account. A woman in an orange shirt stands on the precipice of a crosswalk, her head framed by the white stripes on the road. Her hair appears to be in motion, as if her body is twisting around, reacting to someone calling her name. Two figures in the background walk towards her.
When I was asked to join Salon 44 as co-chair, I happily accepted. Having attended Salon 44 previously, I knew the high caliber of work the fundraiser exhibited and was eager for a chance to hone my online art selling expertise in a formal setting. But I was trepidatious. As hinted at above, I didn’t have a lot of experience with photography (I typically err towards painting as my medium of choice, which is reflected in what I hang on my walls). Thankfully, my co-chair, Maegan Broadhurst, seamlessly guided me through the process of organizing the event. I was relieved when most of our curating choices neatly aligned.
So there I was, having only recently bought my first photograph and co-chairing a photography sale. Sometimes imposter syndrome is an appropriate reaction.
I realized this was a perfect opportunity to test out a few theories I had about collecting art. I believe that the more you know about an art form and the community surrounding it, the more motivated and confident you will be in collecting said work. This proved to be true—as I delved into the practices of Canadian photographers, I was able to hone my personal taste and learn what I was drawn to.
But then, I took things a step further: I bought a polaroid camera. Inspired by the work of Deanna Pizzitelli and Katiuska Doleatto, I was excited to experiment with instant photography as an art form. That’s when I started getting seriously into photography, a fervor that I attribute to a more in-depth understanding. Not only did I know who was making photography right now, but I became engaged with how photographs are made, developed, and composed. I took art books out from the library, I became enamored by Richard Avedon, Francesca Woodman, and Cindy Sherman. I read Sally Mann’s memoir. In understanding the process of photography, I was even more compelled to collect the medium (now, I just need the budget to do so). I thought back to my love of painting in a new light; I had always been a painter as a child, allowing me access to the vocabulary of the medium. A vocabulary as a type of collecting, that begets a physical manifestation.
If you’re around tomorrow (Thursday) at noon, I will be moderating a panel for Salon 44 titled Online Shopping: what it means to be a collector in the digital age with Alex McLeod, Vanessa Runions, and Robyn Zolnai. I hope you can make it! I will include more details below.
If you have any questions about Salon 44, or would like advice on how to choose the first photograph in your collection, don’t hesitate to reach out to me (just reply to this email!).
Salon 44 opens tonight at midnight!
Online Shopping: What it Means to be a Collector in the Digital Age invites a panel of seasoned art collectors, art sellers, and artists to share their thoughts and tips on the changing nature of collecting. Moderated by Tatum Dooley, this panel will touch on everything from the practical considerations for collecting to the more philosophical nature of what it means to be a steward of art.
Time: Mar 4, 2021 12:00 PM ET
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87277229474
Meeting ID: 872 7722 9474
PLUS: You can read my introduction to Waddington’s Women in Art auction here; my Group of Seven essay for The Walrus here; or pick up the latest issue of C Magazine to read a short blurb I wrote for the Letters section.