Gallery envy in Longboat Key

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surferbill

surferbill

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Joined
Jun 30, 2005
Posts
2,738
Loc
virginia beach virginia
I like to check out other galleries when I go on vacation. Last week I was

down in Longboat Key, next to Sarasota Florida. I stopped in and met Terry

from Terry's Framing, and browsed at Wall Galleries. Then I stopped in at the

Wyland Galleries and all I can say is WOW !! It was 93 degrees outside and

they had the front door wide open. Stepping inside, the salesperson asked

me if I would like some cold water, or a glass of wine.

DSC_0579.jpg


I'm getting ready to redo my gallery, and if I had $150,000 to $200,000

thousand, I might be able to copy what the gallery looks like with tile floors,

high-tech lighting, and tasteful wall and window displays. For another

$75,000 I might be able to copy the way the artwork was framed. My

question is, have any of you other Grumblers come across other galleries that

have just knocked your socks off?

PS I didn't buy anything, I just liked the way the gallery was set up.

Bill
Ocean Art
 
Can't do the $200K thing, but Gallo wine is only a coupla bucks a gallon, could offer a pretty decent return on investment! Get the customer a little tipsy, that's the ticket!

Weems Gallery in Albuquerque is a very well run gallery / framing shop, they know their market extremely well and have a very good presentation for both walk-ins and "serious" buyers. "Art is OK" is another storefront style gallery with a very friendly ambiance. Both these carry some pretty heavy duty art along with midrange stuff, but somehow manage to be inviting rather than intimidating or snooty. Never had any wine offered though, maybe I look too much like an artist.
 
dont suppose you got into how much for that double mat 24X36 poster(they do have posters, yes???) with a med priced frame & cc glass????? bet you'd have found out how they can keep the doors open in 90* weather...what ever the traffic will bear!
 
I like alot of them. I don't like alot of them. I think the best thing is too study the places near you and see what they are doing well. Got to imagine in your area there is 15-20 framers? How many have you checked in on lately? That is what I like to do. Just see what they have going on. Somethings you will decide to stay away from, but others you will take that idea back and put it into your shop. Shop around...around town and see what comes up. I am sure there are a few around you that you might like?!

PL
 
They had the doors wide open (with air conditioning running) on a 90 degree day????

I'm sorry, that sends the wrong message to me!
 
A bit further down from Sarasota, in Naples, there is an incredible collection of art galleries.

A very high concentration of galleries (over a 100, by some estimates) in a couple of square miles - they need them for all those mansions there I guess) and there a quite a few really nice galleries there too.

Many have great selections of art and very nicely framed as well.
 
D_Derbonne said:
They had the doors wide open (with air conditioning running) on a 90 degree day????

I'm sorry, that sends the wrong message to me!
Click to expand...

It does to me, too. I was shocked the first time I visited NYC in the summer and found that very thing. However, I understand why they do it - it is very alluring when you're walking down the sweltering sidewalk and you feel the blast of cool air wafting out the doors.
 
when did you take that picture. my partner and i go down to long boat at least once a year, and I most definitely remember the kilwans place next door...but not the gallery...and i am a sucker for a gallery.

is it the place that has the wavy frames? i went to a gallery in the area and they had frames that were not the same height all the way around. they were very amazing.
 
been there and ended up buying 2 originals at over 5000 each for our home.
It's a nice gallery but the framing leaves a lot to be desired ( we reframed both ours).

If we could get every business in florida to keep doors open like that we could lower the temp in Florida by ....1/2 degree?...and only use a zillion
dollars worth of power to do it.. what a waste!!!!
 
Bill T, I have bottled water and small canned sodas I give away to customers, but I'm afraid of giving away wine for liability reasons. You're right though, it's much easier to buy expensive artwork when you have a buzz.

Bill W, They did have a Gic'lee Wyland poster there. It was only about $500.00 dollars framed. I don't think they do poster specials for $89.90 like we do.

Patrick, I do check out my local framers from time to time, and steal any good ideas I see, but it's just not as fun as going to Longboat Key.

Deb, I try to keep my door open when weather permits, but you are right, when it gets over 90 degrees and humid, its wasteful and I couldn't afford the electric bill anyway.

Paul, If I had a million dollars to spend on a condo, I would move to Naples for the beauty of the area, and the art galleries there.

Jessica, I took the pix last week. They have recently moved to the new location. I didn't notice any wavy frames, but they were big on large suede liners, and matching frames. I don't know who does their framing, but I was very impressed with how everything was framed.

Bill
Oceanart.com
 
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