Once upon a time, for a glorious decade, I was an active member with a gallery that wasn’t embarrased to have me around. Why they weren’t embarrassed I’ll never know because I did everything in my earthly power to make those poor souls blush a rosey hue. The gallery, now out of business thru no fault of my own, wasn’t a major name in the art world. Rather it was an obscure and small town art gallery that was set up and run by the local artist who had long wanted some place to show their junk. I was unaware of it until they invited me to come aboard and join them. That told me right there that this gallery was mighty desperate when they have to cajoodle a cartoonist of all people into showcasing his occasionally risque illustrations for a jaded public that was largely conservative, retired, and bored to tears. But still, it’s a plum privilege to even be asked and since I had never been part of a gallery before I was curious to know how the business behind the scenes worked. And, if I got lucky, it might even open a door or two.
Now is as good a place as any to fess up that the only doors that my gallery membership opened were those to the back broom closet when it came my turn to sweep and clean the place. But nonetheless, those years were happy and fruitful ones as I learned a lot about art, about business, about people and the world during my years with them. Heck I even learned a few things about sweeping and cleaning too. We had some real solid talent in that gallery which became a popular hangout for us artistic bohemians. Many of them kept their own little studio in the back where they could get away from their spouses and kids and bill collectors while they painted their artistic masterworks in peace. Or just to get away and enjoy some peace. Hey, none of us judged and I was just as guilty as everyone else about playing hooky in that gallery. It was there in that humble gallery where I learned the fine art to being a true and honest art bum. And I learned it from the best bums in the business. For that I’ll always be grateful. And probably single since it’s really tough finding a good woman who appreciates a professional bum. I haven’t the foggiest idea why.
