notes Archives

Salon style hanging in action. Installation view, Dawn Till Dusk at Jen Bekman Gallery.

Now that we offer custom frames, our prints arrive in your mailbox ready to hang and looking fab! But how you go about hanging your artwork says as much about you as the pieces you collect. Hanging artwork in a row or grid is especially great when your collection has similarly sized or themed works, and it makes for a clean, classic presentation. But salon hanging is excellent for displaying works of different sizes, media and themes.

Salon style hanging originated in the 17th century, in what would eventually become the Paris Salon we're familiar with. The Salon and its presentation of artwork—wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling, to maximize exhibited artists—were instrumental in bringing art to a larger audience, especially once the Salon was opened to the public in 1737. (Art for the masses? How forward-thinking!)

Jeffrey Teuton, Director of Jen Bekman Gallery, uses salon style hanging often at the gallery, so we had a one-on-one with him for a salon hanging tutorial. Get your hammer, nails and level ready!

Jeffrey Teuton, Gallery Director at Jen Bekman Gallery. Photo by A. Jesse Jiryu Davis for thelodownny.com

"Showcasing a collection and a variety of pieces makes a statement about that person," Jeffrey says about exhibiting your artwork, then adds, "It’s a portrait of that collector."

Jeffrey also points out that you should be looking for an organic flow to emerge among the works. And it is perfectly acceptable, if not encouraged, to mix painting and photography, black and white and color, he notes. But, balance and flow are key.

Salon style hanging in action. Installation view, Dawn Till Dusk at Jen Bekman Gallery.

Jeffrey's Steps on Salon Hanging:

1. Measure out the wall you’re trying to fill. "You have to know the space you’re working with," says Jeffrey.
2. Lay the artworks on the floor before hanging them directly to the wall. If you start hammering away willy-nilly, you’ll end up with one too many holes on the wall and likely an imbalanced and uneven display.
3. Remember: It’s not just about the size of the artworks, but about a balance.
4. You’ll want to start with an anchor, a focal point. This could be the biggest piece, or your favorite piece, but it will set the tone.
5. Arrange artworks around your focal point in a pattern of your choosing. "You’ll start to notice that the work interacts with other works, that it is having a dialogue and engaging with the other pieces around it," he explains.
6. Once your pieces are in the desired layout, it’s time to move them to the wall.
You’ll want to either use two nails (instead of just one) or hanging wire to ensure the pieces stay put and don’t shift. Even things like closing of doors and rumbling of nearby trains can “unstick” an artwork and cause it to become uneven if not anchored to the wall properly.
7. In general, you'll want to hang your anchor at eye level, or around 58" from the floor to the center of the artwork. Other pieces will hang lower, higher or level, depending on your selected flow and balance. Also, when installing artwork over furniture, leave at least 8” between the base of the frame and the top of the furniture. And remember, avoid hanging your artwork in direct sunlight!
8. Step back and observe your masterpiece!

At 20x200 we take our art seriously. Even before we opened our doors, many of the longest planning discussions were about the integrity of our editions: How do we guarantee museum-quality prints? How do we assure fidelity between the artist's proofs and the images on your screen? How do we guarantee authenticity? Etc...

We have, I think, come up with best-in-class solutions to all these questions. But of course while we attempt perfection, sometimes (very occasionally!) a print slips through the cracks and arrives bent in the mail, with a stray spot of ink, or has gotten rained upon. In at least one case, a mailman pushed our package through a mail slot into the mouth of an art-loving English bulldog named Alfred.

We hate it when our prints arrive less than perfect, but at the same time, can't just blindly issue new prints because we have to protect the editions' integrity. If an edition has 20 prints, there can't be 21 prints. We solve this problem by asking our collectors to destroy—that's right, destroy—flawed prints, then send us photographic evidence of the imperfections on the artwork when it arrived. This might seem like an extreme step but we also believe it's the right thing to do before we can send you a replacement. And while it's a hassle to document the print's destruction, many collectors end up thanking us because it shows our respect for the art.

When sending back their photographs of destroyed prints, our collectors often respond with great humor and little glimpses into their own lives. So without further ado we present the real reason for this post, an excuse to present a gallery of 20x200 print destruction:

death2vader from christian baujard on Vimeo.

Continue reading "Achieving perfection through destruction" »

Image from Design*Sponge

Hello collectors!

20x200 was recently name-dropped on The Frisky as an excellent source for inexpensive art, and on CasaSugar a fantastic site for inspiring home ideas, so I thought I'd re-post this guide I made not too long ago, as we all need a little help to get the awesome inexpensive art off of the table and onto our walls. It is my hope that this post will serve to inspire reinspire us together.

And now let's flashback to Art Hanging 101!

___

Image from Sköna Hem

A million and one moons ago I worked as an assistant to a nutty creative director who had me up all night collecting "swipe." I'm not sure if this is a term used throughout the industry (I ran away and never looked back) so I will consider it a neologism, and give it this definition: a scrapbook of ideas that keeps one up all hours in order to please an overbearing creative director. Here I am happily providing you with the electronic equivalent, but without the slightest tinge of resentment.

First, let's have a peek at how Jen Bekman hangs art in her home:

Now let's check out two of Raul's approaches:

Both Jen and Raul are in favor of clustering their art. Here is a fool-proof link that will help you get the look just right.

Continue reading "Flashback! Art Hanging 101" »

American Flags by Alison Grippo

Happy 4th of July! Freedom and art for all is celebrated around here this weekend! Hopefully you'll be enjoying the holiday with friends someplace cozy--I'm off for a kayaking adventure on the Hudson in a minute--but wanted to share the perfectly timed image that I found from Alison Grippo on her blog, Inkcapture.

Alison was anointed a Hot Shot and named a Ne Plus Ultra, gaining her representation by Jen Bekman Gallery in 2006. Her two edition prints Untitled (Mott Street), and A Man and His Horse, are available, unlike freedom and art for all, in limited supply.

White Consultation Chair, Upper East Side, 2006, by Cara Phillips

Tomorrow, Tuesday, March 3, from 8-10pm, The Camera Club of New York will host a free panel discussion, “Collecting Contemporary Photography (Emphasis on Emerging)” at the School of Visual Arts. Photo dealers, collectors and photographers will all hold court, among them recent Hey, Hot Shot! Winner, Cara Phillips. Art dealers Daniel Cooney and Michael Mazzeo will be part of the mix, and curiously both have, or will soon have, shows with artists you know via 20x200 and Hey, Hot Shot!, proving that, yes, we do have our finger on the emerging photography pulse.

Daniel Cooney Fine Art is currently showing work from Tema Stauffer, and Michael Mazzeo Gallery will be showing Juliana Beasley as part of his Art!Fair which will open this Wednesday.

Seating for tomorrow's event is limited, so be sure to RSVP to info@cameraclubny.org or call Emile Dubuisson at 212-260-9927.

“Collecting Contemporary Photography (Emphasis on Emerging)”
School of Visual Arts
Amphitheater
209 E. 23rd St.
3rd Floor
Tuesday, March 3, 8-10pm

Image by Ben Hider

Last night was the inaugural Collectors Confab at White Rabbit. I was there to observe many raised glasses, smiles a plenty, and a general feeling of merriment. Couldn't make it? Have a peek at the photos, and then you'll be sure to attend the next one.

This just in: Jason Polan's famed Taco Bell Drawing Club will be convening this very night, the eve of President Lincoln's birth, to draw pictures of good 'ol Honest Abe or crunchwrap supremes or any other thing you can imagine, on the menu or not.

Run, friends, run to that proverbial border--I've heard rumors of door prizes!

Taco Bell Drawing Club Abraham Lincoln 200
Taco Bell
4-5:30pm
14th Street (just W of Union Square)
NYC

Jason Polan's 20x200 editions:
Insects and Myriapods at The American Museum of Natural History
Sea Creatures at The American Museum of Natural History
Dinosaurs at The American Museum of Natural History
132 Birds at The American Museum of Natural History
Every Person in New York
Hand Project

Jason Polan's sites:
Jason Polan
The Drawing Project
Every Person in New York
The 53rd Street Biological Society

Image by 2008 Emerging Photographer Fund grant winner Sean Gallagher

Hello collectors, friends and photographers (or friends of photographers). I was just reading this first-rate blog, and found a reason to rush back and share:

EMERGING PHOTOGRAPHER GRANT 2009

A $10,000 grant will be awarded in early 2009 to a worthy emerging photographer from the readership here whose work is on the highest level. Funding would be designed to support continuation of this photographer’s personal project. This body of work may be of either journalistic mission or purely personal artistic imperatives…

The Emerging Photographer Fund grant was initiated by David Alan Harvey in 2008, and is awarded by the Magnum Foundation, a non-profit created by the the member photographers from Magnum Photos, Inc. A five person jury will be named to review your work.

The DEADLINE for submissions is MARCH 15, 2009. No exceptions.

Complete grant details here.

Buona fortuna!

Running Track
by James Deavin
Buy one now

I know, I know! All of you darling collectors rightfully believed that our 20% More Ridiculous Sale: The Sequel ended yesterday, but as the benevolent Art Gods would have it--the sale has been extended to end tonight at 11:59pm! Now you have a little more time to fill your carts with delectably discounted art (get 20% off your purchase of $50 or more) for you and yours and (of course!) don't forget to enter coupon code RIDIC when you checkout.

Here are a few more edition prints that really should find a new home on your wall this year:

Say Goodbye
by Linzie Hunter
Buy one now

Untitled (Geese, London)
by Dana Miller
Buy one now

Diamonds
by Superdeluxe (Adrienne Wong and Karin Spraggs)
Buy one now

Natural Selections XIII
by Jason Burch
Buy one now

Yes, this is indeed a Venn diagram involving the intersection of Radiohead, Philip Glass and 20x200

Good morning.
Today we've reached a new level. A new level of what I'm not exactly certain, but it's surely something to be impressed by. A Venn diagram is currently up on Very Short List which is not used to illustrate us humble folks here at 20x200, but--brace yourself--Nine Inch Nails! Yep. NIN record and release a 36-track instrumental album of "pure ethereal joy" and get linked to us in a matter of minutes.

We've definitely crossed over a line, and there is no going back.

Read the VSL piece here

Look at a pretty Venn diagram here

Jen Bekman Gallery is now accepting entries for the Second Edition of Hey, Hot Shot! 2008.

The last round of Hey, Hot Shot! for 2008 is officially underway! We are now accepting submissions for the second edition of Hey, Hot Shot! 2008. Please note our shorter-than-usual entry period: The deadline is Tuesday, November 11th, 2008 @ 8pm.

Hey, Hot Shot! — The Best Thing Going for Emerging Photographers

Hey, Hot Shot! offers unrivaled opportunities for emerging photographers to have their work promoted online, reviewed by top-notch panelists and exhibited in our New York gallery. Now in its fourth year, the international competition has been lauded by curators, critics, educators and journalists. This year, we've sharpened our focus on fewer hot shots, giving them even more exposure.

fewer hot shots + longer exhibitions = more exposure
Our panel will select five Hot Shots to exhibit their work in a two-week showcase @ Jen Bekman Gallery. Two shows per year, with half as many people in each exhibition, add up to a higher profile for each winning photographer.

cold hard cash
Each winning photographer will be awarded a $500 honorarium.

ultras go solo
At year's end two Ultras will be selected from 2008's ten Hot Shots. The Ultras will be represented by Jen Bekman Gallery and slated for solo exhibitions.

in it to win it
As always, we'll select contenders to feature daily on the Hey, Hot Shot! blog throughout the entry period.

collect yourself
Contenders will also be considered for 20x200, Jen Bekman's newest online endeavor which offers limited edition prints at affordable prices. These editions are collected (and coveted) the world over by art lovers, editors and curators.

So what are you waiting for? Get your work out there: Apply Now!

The deadline for submissions is Tuesday, November 11th, 2008 @ 8pm (EDT).

Submissions are open to everyone, from anywhere in the world!

Panda
by Charlie Crane

Hello intrepid collectors. For those of you living in the USA, Happy Indigenous Peoples Day*! If you are off from work today I hope you find time to have a nice nap like our panda friend above. I know I will do my best to savor at least one.

I trust that many of you were able to take advantage of the generous 20% off discount that was announced by Miss Jen Bekman this past Friday. The deal (enter code 20off2k at checkout and you'll get 20% off any large prints you purchase) ends tonight Monday, Oct 13 @ 11pm. To further tempt you, I've taken a walk through our archives and selected a few of my favorite edition prints.

Enjoy!

Chateau Pool
by Gregory Krum

Towards Christiana (Copenhagen)
by Rachel Sussman

MOO COW
by Andrew Hetherington

Chamonix
by Ian Carpenter

Sophie
by Jacob Escobedo

Cave Dwellers
by Rachell Sumpter

Tempted?
I'll bet!
Browse more large prints here.

*Yes, I know, it's really Columbus Day, but I thought I'd try and rename it the way the hippie folks in Berkeley have. Mi dispiace, Cristoforo Colombo.

Alec Soth
Advantage Inn, from the series Niagara, 8"x10" C-Print on 11"x14" paper
Photo taken 2005, Printed 2007

Last week I mentioned this excellent auction, and today I'm reminding you that TONIGHT IS THE NIGHT to make it happen! Bid on some art! Help Obama! Here is the too good to be true list of photographers. Each time I look, it seems to get better! Wolfgang Tillmans! Philip Lorca-diCorcia!

ART FOR OBAMA
Bid HERE starting @ 5pm TONIGHT!

*UPDATE*
Bidding has been postponed until OCTOBER 3rd 5pm EST, and will continue through October 10th, 5pm EST

And a special footnote:
Proceeds from the auction will go to MoveOn.org, not directly to the Obama campaign.

Domenique Zuber wrote in recently with a question we get asked a lot here at 20x200, and was kind enough to allow me to reprint it to share with you:

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the art you offer every week. And I love it so much that I've bought more prints than my walls can handle. So, do you have any tips on how to best store the ones that I don't currently have on display? I live in a small place, I don't have flat files, and I'm just not sure how to best tuck away my precious prints to ensure their pristine longevity...

Thanks, Domenique! The first thing you have to consider when storing your art away is what you'll be placing it in. Here at Jen Bekman World Domination HQ, we actually employ three art containment methods; enjoy an image from behind our iron curtain courtesy of my three-year-old cameraphone + my 133t Photoshop skillz:

• Archival storage boxes are easy to find (Dick Blick has a nice selection that won't break the bank) and you can store a lot of prints in them, just make sure to slide a sheet of smooth tissue paper between each print.
• If you've got canvasses or frames to store, wrap them in bubble wrap. Make sure as you wrap that you're not disturbing the surfaces of the artwork, and that when you lean them against each other, nothing protudes from one to poke its neighbor. You can get rolls of bubble wrap from Kinko's or Staples—make sure to get extra if you enjoy popping!
• For large prints that you really don't have space for, you can roll them up very carefully and store them in cardboard tubes. My apartment is short on space, so this is my method of choice. If you're storing multiple prints this way, make sure to use tissue paper between each print like you would in a storage box.
• Our Raul has one last method to consider, if you're especially short on space: "I actually have a bunch of prints in plastic sleeves and then in heavy envelopes in a file cabinet."

Regardless of how you decide to store your art, the second decision you'll make is actually the most important one—where you store it. You want to choose a place that is cool and dry with relatively stable temperatures and good air circulation, avoiding humidity, heat and extreme cold. Bad places: beside a bathroom, fireplace, washing machine, dishwasher, radiators, anywhere that will be in direct sunlight. Attics and garages are out too; basements might be okay but you'll have to be careful. If at all possible, keep stuff on shelves in case of flooding.

How and where you store your art are really all there are this to affordable home art storage. If you have a lot of pieces stored away, you might want to keep a ledger or spreadsheet of what you've got and where it's stashed, but that's about it.

If you've got any questions you'd like answered, or tips you'd like to share with us or your fellow collectors, feel free to send them in to lia at 20x200.com or to leave a comment!