Opening of “When We Were Kids”
By: Magtotoart
I never know what to expect at gallery openings. Once you think you know the crowd, they switch it up. Since starting the blog, I have realized that depending on the body of work being shown, the people that come to the show will differ. You can count on the regulars: art appreciating folks who like to sit and sip wine (or in this case Pabst) and discuss color, movement, influences, and allusions in the work, the gallery regulars: people who are faithful to the gallery and are at the openings regardless of what is being shown, the randoms: people who you otherwise would not find in the high-toned fancy white cube setting of a gallery, and the people of the scene (not to be confused with scene-sters): folks who are well versed in the specific style and background of the work being shown. The latter will follow the artists of their particular scene from gallery to gallery, event to event, and show love and support. All of these people are the spice that makes each gallery opening unique and special for the artist, the gallery, and the usual patrons.
After working in a gallery setting for a year, I have studied these different groups and come to appreciate what each sector brings to the table. Each group, when mixed with others, makes the show into a show. You will always have the one drunk guy who wanders in off the street in a trench coat and no shirt to make the even entertaining and at times scary, but the eclectic, fluctuating groups are what really do it for me. I love seeing people who would otherwise not interact be thrown together in a gallery, all there for the same cause: to appreciate art. Attendees of a gallery show are there to support the artist and the gallery and to make it special. It’s like going to someone’s birthday party; the night is not about you, it’s about them and it’s your job to make it special.
The opening of 1:AM’s “When We Were Kids” featuring work by Minette Mangahas, Christopher De Leon, and James Garcia was a prime example of the demonstration of this love and support. I saw a lot of people hanging together, looking at art, hugging, and taking pictures. Perhaps my upbringing in a similar setting influenced the scope through which I saw the interactions at the show, but it seemed to me that the artists, for the most part, had some great support from family and friends. The show is a collection of work that speaks to being brought up in the Philippines and the US (for more see: 1:AM’s site) and there was a real sense of community happening at this opening.
Here are some of my favorite pieces:
For more on these artist’s, see the 1:AM website: http://1amsf.com/art/
