Gallery Hopping: Bluestone Fine Art Gallery
When and how did you get started in the art business and how long have you been running the gallery?
I opened Bluestone Fine Art Gallery in early spring of 2011. After a career in teaching and raising three children, I was ready for a new adventure.
What type of art do you specialize in?
The gallery features original works by contemporary and traditional artists in a range of mediums, including painting, ceramics and sculpture.
How is your gallery different from other galleries here in Philadelphia?
To answer your question, I feel I need to find fault with my fellow galleries. So, I will tell you a few ways we guarantee our client’s satisfaction. Bluestone showcases engaging works in a welcoming atmosphere, we work closely with collectors; designers and architects, helping our clients select the art best suited for their environment. We encourage our clients to live with their intended purchase for one week. We feel an artwork needs to be seen in the final destination location during all times of day or night. This opportunity allows for the client to be confident in adding to their collection.
Bluestone offers complimentary nationwide delivery. For our clients that are up to 5 hours outside of Philadelphia, the Bluestone team delivers and installs all purchases. It is important to us that the artwork arrives in excellent condition and is hung with expert care.
Are you dealing primarily with local artists, or are you drawing from a national/global pool?
Our artists hail from Philadelphia and around the country – many of the city’s most well-known and emerging artists have exhibited their works in group and solo shows.
Many people have a perception that art is very expensive, especially in light of the recent activity in the auction world. What would your response be to someone who is hesitant to start collecting art because of financial concerns?
We feel that everyone should own original art, as a result they represent a wide range of prices. A person is never too young to become an art collector. Our youngest client is a 14-year-old boy who came in with his mother and chose an original that he could afford. Bluestone owner, Pam Regan, suggests, “Start collecting at a place that makes you comfortable and go from there.” Art doesn’t need to be expensive to be of value to the collector.
Over the past year, what has been your most successful event?
Solo exhibits are usually very rewarding to the artist and our visitors. But, as a gallery our success comes from our clients. Last spring, The University of Pennsylvania chose two works by textile artist Lisa Call to add to their public collection. Yesterday we shipped a piece to Michigan via our art on Amazon. Today, a gentleman stopped in and chose an anniversary present for his wife before heading home to Zurich. All of these events are equally successful to the Bluestone team.
What upcoming events do you have planned that you are excited about?
Our current solo exhibition is The Ever Present Moment, by artist Michael Babyak. Mr. Babyak is a nationally established artist and we are thrilled to share his latest works with the Philadelphia art world.
Are there any upcoming artists in particular that you see having a lot of potential? Ekaterina Ermilkina is an emerging artist that is starting to receive national recognition for her pointillism cityscapes. Artist, Lisa Call is known internationally for her textile/fiber works. Abstract artist, Charles Gniech creates pristine and textured works that are being collected nationally. All three of these artists are receiving additional recognition because of the Internet. Once upon a time, these artists might only have been known at their local gallery. The Internet has allowed for their works to be viewed and collected at a much faster pace.
As a gallery what, if any, has been your biggest legal challenge to date?
Bluestone keeps accurate records on its entire inventory. Each transaction is accompanied with a Certificate of Authenticity. As a result, Bluestone Fine Art Gallery hasn’t dealt with legal challenges.
Have you run into many issues with art storage and, if so, what have those issues been and how have you resolved them? Bluestone hasn’t run into issues with art storage, but it is one of our biggest concerns. All artwork that isn’t on exhibit is properly inventoried and stored in a climate-controlled environment. Bluestone is a two level gallery. The main level hosts a monthly solo exhibition, while the lower level exhibits a group show of at least one work by each of the artists we represent. This layout allows for us to represent a number of artists all year, instead of one artist per month. Our clients, including interior designers and art consultants, appreciate being able to view numerous works at one time. We find that if a client likes one work by an artist, we can make arrangements to show them numerous pieces for them to make their selection.
For more information on the Bluestone Gallery follow them on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
About: Chris Michaels is an art law and litigation attorney in the Philadelphia office of Cruser & Mitchell, LLP. He may be reached at cmichaelsartlaw.com, (267) 888-2842, or on Twitter @CMichaelsartlaw.
Disclaimer: This article is intended as general information, not legal advice, and is no substitute for seeking representation.
