Profiles of Contemporary Art and - ARTisSpectrum

The Synergy of Success
...Why Agora Gallery Works
Her role also involves arranging all incoming and
outgoing shipments, international customs requirements,
registrar, art insurance, packaging
and storage.
Nellie provides the main point of communication
for hundreds of artists, both international and domestic
in coordinating their exhibitions by offering
helpful logistical expertise to guarantee a positive
exhibition experience.
Nellie says that: Installation days are my favorite
examples of synergy at Agora. I oversee our fantastic
team of professional art installers as they
pack and unpack the artwork. I love watching all of
the artwork being unpacked and to see some of the
pieces for the first time “in-person”. Once everything
is unpacked, Clara and I work really closely
with Angela in laying out the show and decide what
works as a whole. Angela’s eye for a good layout is
dead on; she knows what pieces will work visually
next to one another and what won’t. I’ve learned a
lot from working with everyone here at Agora Gallery…
it’s a real team-oriented environment.
Clara Lemaire
… Curatorial Assistant
Clara schedules exhibitions
with a curatorial perspective;
looking at styles and themes
that can unite works in order to make a coherent,
strong and sometimes surprising collective exhibition.
Prior to an exhibition, she creates tentative
layouts and discusses them with Angela.
She will then inform an artist of the artworks selected
for their upcoming exhibition and provide them
with possible framing proposals and estimates.
If an artist chooses to use Agora’s framing services,
then Clara coordinates the process by checking
the status of the artwork when it is delivered
to the gallery… making certain that it’s in good
shape. Then she schedules the pick up and provides
the framer with specific instructions from
the artist. She ensures that the framing is completed
and delivered in a timely manner for the
exhibition. Once the artwork is delivered by the
framer, she opens the boxes, checks the framing
job, takes photos and then emails the artist with
attached photos.
And because she is bilingual, if the artist is French
she can do a French translation when needed.
Clara gets energized during the second day of
an installation as artwork is placed: All artworks
have been taken out of their respective boxes,
crates, bubble wrap and glassine papers, and
are placed in the tentative layout. Angela, Nellie
and I unite our skills and eyes to create a plan for
the exhibition. Seeing artwork in person most often
changes one’s perception that was previously
based on photographs. The process of placing
the artworks in a new exhibition, collective or solo,
is such a creative and dynamic one… especially
since a number of people are involved and giving
their perspective… working on it together. The
outcome is always surprisingly harmonious and I
would compare that process to one of alchemy.
Alexandra Cespedes
…Marketing Assistant
Alexandra is responsible for
marketing artists who are
known both nationally and internationally.
She assists artists in gaining clarity of
the importance of how to best submit their work for
consideration by the gallery. She patiently answers
many questions about the Chelsea International
Fine Art Competition (run by Agora Gallery) and
how to best submit a portfolio. She notes that when
an artist expresses enthusiasm for his or her work
this, in turn, is manifested in positive response by
staff members and the viewing audience.
It’s thrilling for her when she finally meets an artist
in person and sees the excitement on their faces
for the unveiling of their work at opening receptions.
It’s a really proud moment for both the artist
and the gallery. She says: There’s nothing like seeing
a talented artist shine through his or her work.
When asked about the extraordinary synergy
at Agora she says: We are a diverse group of
women; each with amazing individual qualities.
As individuals we are able to contribute our skills
and talents to the whole.
We come together as a positive force when we
meet to discuss how to best resolve issues. And
we know how to celebrate special occasions!
29 ARTisSpectrum