Gallery Director Angie Reed Garner approached local artists in December to ask if they had created anything new during the 2024 election cycle, or if they had any works in progress that could be ready by Inauguration Day. When the artists delivered their submissions to Garner’s gallery in NuLu, some of the paintings were still wet.
“I did not want to show older work on political issues, however timely and relevant,” Garner said, “because I wanted responses to the specific moment we are living now.” The installation of the group exhibition “inaugurate” was installed at garner narrative, 642 E. Market St. on Monday, January 20, concurrent with the inauguration of the 47th President of the United States of America.
The exhibition includes work by Garner, who describes herself as a second generation self-taught painter. Other artists in “inaugurate” are Garner’s mother (and co-founder of the gallery) Joyce Garner, and her brother Will Garner, as well as multimedia artists Maureen Hagerman, Shawn Marshall, Aaron Raymer, and Mark Zanni.
<a href="https://media1.leoweekly.com/leoweekly/imager/u/original/17354238/joyce_garner_in_progress_and_i_quit.webp" rel="contentImg_gal-17354231" title="Joyce Garner, In progress and I quit (detail), oil on canvas, 82×212 inches. – garner narrative" data-caption="Joyce Garner, In progress and I quit (detail), oil on canvas, 82×212 inches.
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Joyce Garner, In progress and I quit (detail), oil on canvas, 82×212 inches.
In her gallerist statement, Garner wrote that her big concern in visual arts is the decline in buyers for artwork, particularly pieces that are priced between $300 and $5000. “It’s not really a mystery. Middle-class folks don’t have the money, or if they have it they are afraid they will need it later. Political upheaval amplifies financial insecurity, and we face new levels of uncertainty.”
Despite the uncertainty and challenges that many Americans might face over the next four years, Garner is confident that visual art does not need to have mass appeal to be successful. “You only need one collector who loves it and can figure out how to afford it: done,” she wrote. “The gallery gets a paycheck (and keeps presenting artists), the artist gets a paycheck (and stays making art), and the collector gets the artwork. Everybody gets to come, enjoy art for free, and have some wine and cheese.”
Although “inaugurate” was installed on Inauguration Day, the opening reception is scheduled for Sunday, February 9, 2:00–4:00 p.m. with an artist discussion at 3:00 p.m. Garner narrative gallery is open to the public.
“Inauguration” will be on view until Sunday, February 23.