Group Therapy

Everybody's doing it, and everybody's writing about it (NY Times, NY Sun). The majority of art galleries are mounting group exhibitions, instead of focusing on just one artist, during the summer months. The NY Sun confirmed my suspicions that one of the reasons for this trend is that it's easier for the curators. During July and August, art buyers clear out of NYC, and gallerists and artists aren't gung-ho to pour blood, sweat, and tears into a show for an audience of none. In addition, galleries see these group shows as an opportunity to scout out new talent. As a gallery-goer, I prefer solo shows. Group exhibts seem more about the curator than the artist. In the majority of these shows, there are no markers or notes on the wall to indicate the individual artist or the name of the piece. The visitor must go to the front desk to retrieve a listing of the artists and use that as a guide. A pain and a distraction.