Rebecca Smith Happy Now That She’s Found Love

by Art Fag City on October 26, 2009 · 23 comments Events

POST BY PADDY JOHNSON

An installation shot from the now shuttered Bellwether Gallery

Rebecca Smith, owner of Bellwether, the now defunct gallery specializing in emerging artists, had a tough year, but she’s found the fervor she once had for art in love, according to the New York Times Sheelah Kolhatkar who paints a bleak, gendered picture of the art world.

As Kolhatkar tells it, the gallerist did not fit in well: “Becky, 43, is not one of the blonde wisps usually seen working at chic Manhattan art spaces — she has a big head of curly black hair and chunky eyeglasses.” In other words, being neither anorexic nor invisible distinguished her from other women working in the field. This myth assumes only a certain strata of women can have any success as dealers and no gallerist would survive for any length of time at all if they actually met Kolhatkar’s description.

The writer then describes Smith’s success as almost wholly part of the boom. “Buying the work of unknown young artists was especially appealing to Wall Streeters,” pens Kolhatkar, “…It was an accessible way to start building an art collection and it offered the possibility of ‘discovering’ artists and making a fortune as their work shot up in value — not unlike the thrills of the stock market.” While the phenonmenon itself may be accurately relayed, in doing so the writer glosses over the work and success of Rebecca Smith’s gallery. As mentioned early on in the article, Smith may have owed money to artists — a poor business practice criticized by many in the art world — but that never negated her successes or dedication to the field. Certainly, a paragraph dedicated to a few career highlights past hiring staff would have rounded this piece out a little.

But as this story arc curves, we learn that Smith’s lost gallery isn’t so bad because she’s found love with an ex-Wall Street worker.  And that makes any business woe better.

{ 23 comments }

James Kalm October 26, 2009 at 3:42 pm

Sounds like we’ve got the pilot plotline for the next hot TV drama, “Desperate Art Dealers”. And by the way, I always thought Becky was sexy.

James Kalm October 26, 2009 at 3:42 pm

Sounds like we’ve got the pilot plotline for the next hot TV drama, “Desperate Art Dealers”. And by the way, I always thought Becky was sexy.

James Kalm October 26, 2009 at 11:42 am

Sounds like we’ve got the pilot plotline for the next hot TV drama, “Desperate Art Dealers”. And by the way, I always thought Becky was sexy.

Wendy Cooper October 26, 2009 at 4:56 pm

I felt the same way after closing my gallery, no longer interested in the art world after 30 years of heavy, deep and real involvement. It took 2.5 years to find art inspiring again, but an art gallery? not so much. Running a gallery, whether you are a young blonde wisp or a middle aged woman with chunky glasses requires cash in the bank. Lots of it. And even more than that. Read the book Women Gallerists. Almost all of the great women who are respectfully presented – and who have held strong for decades have had (lots of) cash in the bank. It made me very sad.

Wendy Cooper October 26, 2009 at 12:56 pm

I felt the same way after closing my gallery, no longer interested in the art world after 30 years of heavy, deep and real involvement. It took 2.5 years to find art inspiring again, but an art gallery? not so much. Running a gallery, whether you are a young blonde wisp or a middle aged woman with chunky glasses requires cash in the bank. Lots of it. And even more than that. Read the book Women Gallerists. Almost all of the great women who are respectfully presented – and who have held strong for decades have had (lots of) cash in the bank. It made me very sad.

Giovanni October 26, 2009 at 7:00 pm

I think the moron who wrote the article confused the front desk gallerinas with the art dealers. I can only think of one or two “blonde wisps” who actually own and run their own galleries. Everyone else, like Becky, looks normal.

Giovanni October 26, 2009 at 7:00 pm

I think the moron who wrote the article confused the front desk gallerinas with the art dealers. I can only think of one or two “blonde wisps” who actually own and run their own galleries. Everyone else, like Becky, looks normal.

Giovanni October 26, 2009 at 3:00 pm

I think the moron who wrote the article confused the front desk gallerinas with the art dealers. I can only think of one or two “blonde wisps” who actually own and run their own galleries. Everyone else, like Becky, looks normal.

Irene Smirnova October 27, 2009 at 1:36 pm

It is sad that looks of the person who runs the business can be blamed for the success failure. I am sure there are some deeper reasons for that. I may sound idealistic, but i never stop thinking that people will buy art (and actually are buying) because they love it and want to live with it for many years, not because they view it as a stock.

Irene Smirnova October 27, 2009 at 9:36 am

It is sad that looks of the person who runs the business can be blamed for the success failure. I am sure there are some deeper reasons for that. I may sound idealistic, but i never stop thinking that people will buy art (and actually are buying) because they love it and want to live with it for many years, not because they view it as a stock.

Larry Krone October 29, 2009 at 6:39 am

Not paying artists is inexcusible. I appreciate your generousity, Paddy Johnson, but how can you give credit to Becky for her “success” and “dedication to the field” when all she gained personally was at the expense of the hardworking artists who were responsible for producing the actual art she was selling? She preyed on emerging artists, because they are eager enough for a break to believe that it is worth it to deal with a person like Becky who has no respect for their value as artists or their right to receive their share of sales. It’s despicable behavior, and I cannot believe she is still being rewarded for it.

Larry Krone October 29, 2009 at 2:39 am

Not paying artists is inexcusible. I appreciate your generousity, Paddy Johnson, but how can you give credit to Becky for her “success” and “dedication to the field” when all she gained personally was at the expense of the hardworking artists who were responsible for producing the actual art she was selling? She preyed on emerging artists, because they are eager enough for a break to believe that it is worth it to deal with a person like Becky who has no respect for their value as artists or their right to receive their share of sales. It’s despicable behavior, and I cannot believe she is still being rewarded for it.

Art Fag City October 29, 2009 at 3:50 pm

Not paying anyone you owe is inexcusable, but that’s what happens when any business fails. According to the New York Times Becky Smith is broke. That’s not a personal gain.

Art Fag City October 29, 2009 at 3:50 pm

Not paying anyone you owe is inexcusable, but that’s what happens when any business fails. According to the New York Times Becky Smith is broke. That’s not a personal gain.

Art Fag City October 29, 2009 at 11:50 am

Not paying anyone you owe is inexcusable, but that’s what happens when any business fails. According to the New York Times Becky Smith is broke. That’s not a personal gain.

Larry Krone October 29, 2009 at 8:55 pm

I apologize- you’re right. The New York Times article was talking about her current situation. Smith has been notorious for not paying artists throughout the life of her gallery, and that is what I am referring to.

Larry Krone October 29, 2009 at 8:55 pm

I apologize- you’re right. The New York Times article was talking about her current situation. Smith has been notorious for not paying artists throughout the life of her gallery, and that is what I am referring to.

Larry Krone October 29, 2009 at 4:55 pm

I apologize- you’re right. The New York Times article was talking about her current situation. Smith has been notorious for not paying artists throughout the life of her gallery, and that is what I am referring to.

Paul Schlossman November 25, 2009 at 10:27 pm

shouldn’t all of this be recalibrated in a hegelian view of the long zeitgeist of historynas this may pertain to the long term historicnemergence of artists and artifacts passingnthru the walls of new yorker or other typengalleries and texts?

Paul Schlossman November 25, 2009 at 6:27 pm

shouldn’t all of this be recalibrated in a hegelian view of the long zeitgeist of history\nas this may pertain to the long term historic\nemergence of artists and artifacts passing\nthru the walls of new yorker or other type\ngalleries and texts?

Paul Schlossman November 25, 2009 at 10:28 pm

the long term historic emergence of artistsntrumps business conditions in eval of thisnarea of cultural experience

Paul Schlossman November 25, 2009 at 10:28 pm

the long term historic emergence of artistsntrumps business conditions in eval of thisnarea of cultural experience

Paul Schlossman November 25, 2009 at 6:28 pm

the long term historic emergence of artists\ntrumps business conditions in eval of this\narea of cultural experience

Comments on this entry are closed.

Previous post:

Next post: