As some of you remember I was represented by the Phyllis Kind Gallery
for many years, this was a good time in my life. The Oscars just fell
into tour laps and HBO wanted to connect me to a gallery, that is how
Phyllis I crossed path. From the moment we met, she referred to my work
as my children.
Really, each art piece is a child, the seed is
the idea and they bloom into their own identity as we work on them.
Phyllis had the philosophy of finding the right buyer for each piece. I
was off to a good run; my first solo show was a huge success. Then 9/11
occurred and understandable other things took precedence to art. I
always knew art is more of luxury in life, face it I never did art for
the money that is more of a bonus. Over the next few years I had two
more solo shows at the Kind Gallery.
Then in 2006, I got a call no
Artist would ever what to receive. Time to come pick up your work
because the gallery is moving to a smaller place. To me this is mix
emotions since my work is going into storage, but at least I have the
opportunity to get my kids back. Whoever has taken an Art history
class, has heard many stories about galleries closing and the Artist
can’t find their work. Interesting enough when Dena and I went to pick
up the kids, Phyllis kept a hand full of my work.
To be honest, I
was frustrated that they kept the prints that I worked on in the summer
of 2002. That summer I basically took over the print shop at Towson
University and hired Dawn, Jessica and Brian to run edition for me,
thanks to Tonia Mathews. All of women/men power and supplies were out
of pocket, I think you would see why I would be worried about what
happened to the editions.
For the next dozen years, I had no idea
of what happen to Phyllis, or my work. Even the producers of King Gimp
could not get through to the gallery. Two weeks ago, an email popped up
in my inbox from Phyllis’ daughter, saying the gallery is finally
closed and would I like to come get the rest of my work? Right away;
I’m reply yes and I am thinking self, the flipping prints! I wanted to
ask about how Phyllis is doing in person.
Last Saturday Dena,
Daisy and I packed into our van and set out for NYC. When Dena and
Rachel put the first load into the van, I did tear up. This is not only
the end of a chapter in my life, but an end of an era in the Art world.
As they finished loading the work, Rachel says it must feel good
getting your children back. I know that is something her Mom would say,
I hope she is having a relaxing retirement living on the West coast.
Before we headed back home, I asked Rachel to please kiss her mom for
me.
As we were heading home, I asked Dena; honey do you know what
we have here? This was Phyllis’ private collection of my work. You
know she handpicked what she wanted to keep, because she knew it’s
value. Rachel said as she was moving my work to lobby, people ask if it
was for sell. The thing about art, the Artist know it’s value, people
like Phyllis tell you it’s value but there is no proof unless people see
the dollars flowing.
Email Dan
