Art Gallery Catering
My trusted agent tells me about a film set caterer who wants to shift her business into high-end art gallery receptions and corporate catering. Her story, and her connections, were good enough for a half-hour TV show. Reminds me of a favourite cartoon called, 'Business Television' showing a TV camera pointed at a cat in a litter box.
Catering at gallery openings may seem glamorous for people who don't generally go to gallery openings. A couple plates of decent tapas will do. I'm trying to diet here! Bet the caterer dangles the bright and shiny gallery gigs to impress knuckle-dragging corporate function buyers. What, does the woman plan to put on a banquet?
Photo, Julia Walther
Good wine in glass (or crystal) is the thing.
Give them halfway decent wine (they don't want to spit out) and keep the art targets in the gallery long enough to get elevated to the stars on alcohol so they'll impress their date or the sexy gallery girl by dropping some crazy-cash on a painting. Buying art is about sex and status. That or the wife decides which piece of art her friends won't ridicule.
Gallery owners don't want potential buyers eating because it'll soak up the booze and keep people sluggish and sober. Maybe some cheese and the tiniest little wafers. Very, very good cheese. And foot massages....
'Ode to an Art Gallery Caterer'
Dionysus, 2006
O!
Just drink,
Bitch!
Catering at gallery openings may seem glamorous for people who don't generally go to gallery openings. A couple plates of decent tapas will do. I'm trying to diet here! Bet the caterer dangles the bright and shiny gallery gigs to impress knuckle-dragging corporate function buyers. What, does the woman plan to put on a banquet?Photo, Julia WaltherGive them halfway decent wine (they don't want to spit out) and keep the art targets in the gallery long enough to get elevated to the stars on alcohol so they'll impress their date or the sexy gallery girl by dropping some crazy-cash on a painting. Buying art is about sex and status. That or the wife decides which piece of art her friends won't ridicule.
Gallery owners don't want potential buyers eating because it'll soak up the booze and keep people sluggish and sober. Maybe some cheese and the tiniest little wafers. Very, very good cheese. And foot massages....
'Ode to an Art Gallery Caterer'
Dionysus, 2006
O!
Just drink,
Bitch!
posted by Bill Pocock at 6:04:00 p.m.
2 Comments:
Never been to a corporate function in a gallery, have you?
Thank you for an excellent question, anonymous.
I have been to corporate functions in art galleries, actually.
My 'Art Gallery Catering' post meant to distinguish between:
1) art gallery receptions
Only token food should be on display during an art gallery reception. Here the only purpose is to sell the art on display with the help of the artist present. More wine, less food.
2) corporate functions generally
The third case of 'corporate functions in an art gallery' is not primarily about the art on show. It's corporate culture in a sexy venue to advance the goals of the corporation/event (charity, sales, morale, celebration, etc...). Too much booze (e.g. Xmas parties) can be disastrous to convenient corporate lies as people tell each other what they really think. More food, less wine.
I don't blame gallery owners for opening their space for non-art functions. It's not an art event, though, the way I distinguish things. Isn't it really just a business event which happens to be in an art venue?
If I had to go to a corporate function I would like it to be in an art gallery. Yes, I'm part of the problem, anonymous.
You see, when you talk to me, anonymous, you're really speaking to many different people. Just as you, anonymous, mask the identity of others throughout the ages. Art Slob respects the many voices of anonymous and is grateful for your questions.
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