KMAA’s SHOP TALK (Produced by Nancy A Scherl) →
I’m so proud to have created ‘SHOP TALK,’ a round-table discussion about art, produced for the KMAA. During the COVID-19 Pandemic, I produced this program using ZOOM as the platform. The idea was to keep our Katonah Museum Artists Association, involved and safe. The beauty of zoom, was that I was able to draw from artists all over the country.
This was our first ‘live’ presentation and it was so nice to have an in person event again. What a delightful time we all at The Katonah Museum of Art, last night, for the Katonah Museum Artist's Association’s ‘SHOP TALK’ panel discussion. I am personally proud of this program which I created during Covid 19. At that time, it was produced as a zoom event which had a strong place especially during the pandemic. One of the beauties of zoom, is that I was able to invite panelists and guests across the country. This presentation, however, was the first live presentation and it felt so great to see everyone in the audience. I’m particularly delighted that we had a full house.
We discussed the challenges that museum directors and gallery owners have in general but how those challenges were heightened immediately after the Covid 19 lockdown had been lifted.
Michelle Yun Mapplethorpe, Executive Director of the Katonah Museum of Art, shared so much of her experience with us. She spoke about programing and exhibitions, the curation of exhibitions that are frequently booked between three to five years ahead of time, and distinguishing between monographic versus thematic exhibitions.
Rita Baunok, Owner & Curator of Chroma Fine Arts Gallery (Katonah, NY), who is a also a phenomenal fine art photographer, spoke about her role as a curator. She considers it an art to curate her shows at Chroma and spoke about how important it is for her to curate these exhibitions with her own vision. Many artists who have exhibited at Chroma Fine Arts Gallery have mentioned to her how delighted they were with the curation and how they never had envisioned their own work being shown in the way Rita had installed their works.
Tina Villaveces, Owner and Director at Yellow Studio (Cross River, NY) spoke about her gallery. It is primarily a visual arts gallery. Her whole thrust and mission is with regard to building community. That said, she offers different membership plans such as her ‘Club Plan’. What’s unique about Tina’s business model is that she also integrates an eclectic array of women -small business owners to be a part of Yellow Studio. She spoke about her revenue and how her business model lifts the pressure of selling the exhibiting artwork.
There is alot of cross-pollination in this community, particularly in the art realm. Many of the artists who have shown at these local galleries are also members of the Katonah Museum Artists Association. On a very personal note, I love the intimacy of this community, at large. Though I have strong roots in Westchester, I am based in New York City. The day of the event, I raced up to the Harlem Train Station, to meet the 4:02pm train to Katonah. Midway on the train, I realized I left my beautiful vintage cookie tin which had been filled with my grandmother’s thumbprint Jelly cookies. I baked about 100 of them the night before. I called up LMNOP Bakery, in Katonah and told them that they wouldn’t remember me but I am a dear friend of Corinne Lapin-Cohen. Knowing that they close at 5pm, and that my train got in at 4:58pm, I asked them if they’d please put a box of goodies together for me and I’d pay for it as soon as I race up the train station stairs. Connor, said ‘of course’ –it was the last of their deserts but I had called at the nick of time. Cori and her husband Alan had sponsored these people to help them open their business in the town of Katonah. The owners of LMNOP Bakery started their business while baking and operating tfrom their home in Katonah. Now, their beautiful bakery and cafe is right near the train station, in Katonah. This is part of the small town community that I love. Yes, I have it New York City too, but I think the difference is that in a town, the personable relationships and ongoing interest in community is more prominent. All is well that ends well. I walked in with some sweets for everyone and my grandma’s infamous jelly cookies will be freshly baked again for our next meeting, in October.