Austinist: Volitant Gallery Losing Lease, Closing At the End of the Month

guest

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 13:27:01 -0600

You never needed an invitation to the openings. Although there are two possibilities where I can surmise the confusion coming from. 1 - I heard the Terri Thomas opening was a parody of the "celebutante universe" filled with a fake waiting line and fake paparazzi 2- There were instances of private parties. They looked identical to openings. Either way, it was impressive that they lasted as long as they did.

guest

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 13:01:14 -0600

"You never needed an invite, you just show up to the openings. WHoever wrote that doesn't go that often." You're right. I never went after I was told you can't show up to their openings because they were invitation only.

b

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 12:41:39 -0600

the current show is good. though the pieces are of uneven quality, there are a couple (darkly themed) photographs worth popping in for, as well as some really expert collage. so it's too bad about the closing. i hope a new gallery pops up there. or an ethiopian restaurant. (go, go!)

guest

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 09:38:18 -0600

i have visited almost all the shows, and have yet to be impressed (i have not seen the new one). much of the work was immaturish and provocative just for the sake of being provactive, not really saying anything. much of it felt like student work. i mistakenly assumed that it was subsidized by the City or a local Arts foundation. i applaud the passion which Volitant put into the endevour. its always sad to see a gallery fade.

guest

Tue, 09 Oct 2007 21:13:45 -0600

You never needed an invite, you just show up to the openings. WHoever wrote that doesn't go that often. Good luck to the staff. Hope to see you do more great things in the art community.

guest

Tue, 09 Oct 2007 14:54:14 -0600

I've also been told that instead of open to the public openings, you had to have an invite to attend their openings. That probably didn't help them sell art much either.

kenneth1

Tue, 09 Oct 2007 14:46:11 -0600

Personally, I respect someone for trying to start a gallery in Central Austin without a sweetheart loan/subsidy from the city. Wish Solis & Gallaugher could've made a go of it, but trying to turn a profit by selling art in such a large space on prime downtown real estate is next to impossible.

guest

Tue, 09 Oct 2007 10:38:13 -0600

I love art and I love going to galleries, but I never went to Volitant. There was just something very standoffish about it. Plus they never displayed the best works in their windows. You walk by there right now and you don't see this dripping flowers thing. You see a centipede that looks worse than the bamboo I made in 10th grade art class when we did calligraphy. It's not exactly a draw.

guest

Tue, 09 Oct 2007 10:11:22 -0600

An art gallery built on the whim of a young naive millionaire who "needed a place to crash" while in Austin, was destined for that big blank wall in the sky.