Get In, Get Out, Sell Art

Defining Pantone 278

If you have followed Pantone 278 on any level, you have probably noticed that it's a little hard to define. To that point, whenever people ask me how the gallery is, I often have a a hard time answering. Maybe I like it that way. Sure, it makes for some slightly awkward conversations at times but it also gives me (and the gallery) the chance to figure out what this thing is or will become, if anything at all.

Call it an experiment, a hypothesis, a case study, a success, a failure, whatever you may. All I know is that I have enjoyed showing art, talking to people about it, seeing where it takes us, and not putting to much pressure on it being anything in particular.

Next Steps

One of the ideas behind Pantone 278 is to take on the traditional model of an art gallery. In my perception that means a fancy space inhabited by unapproachable art that intimidates people from actually exploring what art means and feels to them.

So, in 2 years, the gallery has moved from the Charlotte Trolley Museum to South End Home (R.I.P) and now to Charlotte NC Tours and its Southend outpost located here (see the map).

So for this summer, Pantone 278 will be hosting pop-up galleries during the Southend First Friday Gallery Crawls. Same format as always: no program, just great art on the walls, come meet the artist, enjoy catching up with others who love doing the same, and support local art.

May 6 Show

One of the great things about working with emerging artists is to witness first-hand their artistic development. With this comes a proliferation of work and the amassing of artwork that creates a concrete timeline of the artist's progress.

But even the hottest, best-selling, trendiest artists can't sell their work fast enough. This results in a conundrum that discussion of which could fill pages of electronic print -- What to do with all of that artwork? Should the artist maintain the integrity of the pricing? What about the cost of storage? Is there such a thing as too much exposure? What about exclusivity? How do artist's feed their families?

Well, I'm not going to pretend to have the answers to any of those questions. I will just say that this Friday, Pantone 278 will have a great show of works from Charlotte artist Ash Lathe at some amazing prices. There will be pieces that you would hardly recognize as his work today and pieces that will show just how far an artist can reach in a few short years.

Details

So, if none of this makes any sense to you, just follow the directions and show up.

Who: Pantone 278
What: Pop-Up show of Works by Ash Lathe
When: Friday, May 6 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM
Where: NC Tours Southend, 128 E. Park Ave., Charlotte

Added Bonus: Come ride your bike with Bike! Charlotte and Bike First Friday.