Today on AOBF, we are featuring yet another dynamic woman, Jeannie Denholm of SCAPE Gallery in Corona del Mar, California. SCAPE is an acronym for Southern California Art Projects and Exhibitions. It is one of the premier art galleries in Orange County.
While I had purchased an amazing piece of art from her gallery many years ago, I had never met Jeannie. A friend, Vivian Browne, had started working with SCAPE and we made a plan to feature one of their artists that was going to be having a show, the talented Carin Gerard. When we met Jeannie we had so many questions and of course wanted to include her as well. She is a dynamo that we can all learn something from! Introducing Jeannie Denholm…
We love SCAPE Gallery, which is an acronym for Southern California Art Projects and Exhibitions. It is one of the premier art galleries in Orange County.
How long have you been here in CDM, and how did you choose Orange County versus Los Angeles?
I can’t believe it…. I’ve been in CDM in this location for 15 years. Where did the time go? I don’t feel 15 years older!
I chose Orange County over Los Angeles for a few reasons…
1. At the time I was writing a business plan my kids were toddlers. The OC coastal area is such a great place to raise kids. I wanted my kids to have the lifestyle and benefits that this coastal area offers. I didn’t want to have a 1 hr (+) commute with toddlers at home.
2. It sounds a bit corny but I also felt a calling of sorts, to bring a different “art vision” to this area. There was a void that I felt needed to be filled. I had been very immersed in the Los Angeles art scene with my work at the Broad Art Foundation (at the time) and I wanted to build a bridge (so to speak) between what was happening in LA and the OC.
3. SCAPE’s initial business plan was a collaboration with OC gallerist, Diane Nelson. She was deeply ingrained in the Orange County community. We had a very rewarding and successful partnership for 13 years and picked CDM specifically because we wanted to keep our unique vision separate from the Laguna Beach art scene.
4. The CDM location vs. Laguna Beach kept me closer to LA’s art scene by 20 minutes (that 20 minutes makes a big difference for drive time tolerance!) From the very beginning of this business it was important that I continued to access and participate in LA’s art scene a lot.
Can you tell us a little about your background in art. You have quite the resume which includes buying art for the Broad Art Foundation, which must have been so exciting!
I have a Bachelor’s degree in Art History and a Masters degree in Exhibition Design and Museum Studies. My love for the gallery business began in Colorado where I ran galleries in Denver, Vail and Aspen. I moved to CA about 25 years ago. Having the opportunity to work at the Broad Art Foundation remains a professional highlight. Those nine years were a pivotal chapter for me. At the time that I was there, there were only 4 other employees at the Broad Art Foundation. That is crazy to think about today when you think about how huge the Broad Art Museum is and how many employees there are now ( 200+). My job was to oversee Eli Broad’s (then) corporate art collections. The focus of the two corporate collections (KB Home and SunAmerica/|AIG) was to support Southern California’s early to mid-career artists. That kept me in artist studios in and around LA and in constant conversation with LA’s leading galleries. It was that exposure that gave me the education and knowledge about Southern California’s historical art scene. Those years provided the relationships and foundation from which this business platform is based on.
What sort of artists do you represent?
The thrust of the artists I represent are mid-career artists who have a solid history of pursuing their art career, have an exhibition history, an art selling history and most of whom are Southern CA based. I seek to find artists that have a distinct style (ie: not derivative of a popular style or another artist’s oeuvre). I try hard to represent art that doesn’t remind you of something else or that you have seen somewhere else….I search for art that stands out! I am personally very drawn to work that is labor intensive and that explores unexpected materials or art making methods. Precisionism, technique and craftsmanship rank high in my art connoisseurship and decisions for representation.
How do you decide what artists to have a show for, and how long do the shows typically run for? There are some people who are nervous to step foot in a gallery and are intimidated, and think they have to spend a lot of money for art. What would you say to them?
I aim to honor the artists I work with by offering a solo or themed group exhibition approximately every 18 months. Most exhibitions at SCAPE last one month. I encourage everyone to walk into SCAPE. We are there because we love the conversations that take place around the art that we exhibit. Everyone is always welcome to come in and just enjoy art for the sake of enjoying art. If a visitor has special needs or interests, we will happily direct our art services toward their desired specifications.
Can you share some pointers for someone who is just starting to collect art? What are some bullet points to start with: collect a wide variety, stay in a lane, or go with what you love and speaks to you?
The starting point always begins with buy what you love and start with what speaks to you. But my advice is to seek guidance in those areas. People often tell me they “know what they like “, but I have learned that they “like what they know”. It helps to work with someone that can expose you to more and share a larger conversation around the art that you might be considering. Find a trusted source and build a relationship with them. We love being your trusted source in this realm. We keep the art collecting process fun and educational, based on your personal interests and objectives.
Are there any rules for displaying art in the home? Guidelines to go by?
Yes and No. I like breaking rules with regards to displaying art. Let your passion and love for a particular piece of art dictate the wall that it commands! On the other hand, scale and practicality do come into play, ie: certain artworks should not be placed on walls with extreme sunlight (ie: photography), and primary wall locations in the home demand commanding artworks that are scale proportionate. My general advice with new collectors is to begin by pinpointing primary walls within their home. Build a realistic budget that is in sync with the caliber of their home and interior objectives and grow from there. Start an art budget and think about the art for a home early! If you are an established collector… then the conversation starts at a different point, based on art interests and collecting objectives. We work with art passionate individuals on all levels and the rules for displaying art in the home change and evolve accordingly.
Is art pricing negotiable?
Good question as I’m sure that is a question a lot of people want to know the answer to. Generally speaking, NO. Art pricing is not negotiable. There is consistent pricing among galleries that represent the same artists., etc. However, there is usually some room for client price negotiations if they are buying multiple pieces at the same time.
If a private party had a piece of art or part of a collection to sell, how would you recommend doing that?
Different collections and artworks require different strategies. One general answer is hard to give. Contact us if you are in this situation and we will help strategize with you. We have a long history in this business and lots of established colleague relationships. If we can’t help you directly, we are always happy to refer you to someone who we think can.
Who would your dream client be, other than Eli Broad?
It is always rewarding to work with clients that are interested in building an art collection with a particular focus. I enjoy developing long term relationships and staying in the art buying process with a client for many years and continuing a level of involvement with the art they acquire (ie: buying for them or with them at auctions, overseeing art loans, getting insurance value updates, collection management etc). In summary, the dream clients are the ones who are passionate about collecting art and who stay in a collecting mode.
I’m sure this may be a hard question for you to answer: Who are your top 3 favorite artists and why?
That is a very hard to question to answer and depending on the day you ask me, you will likely get a different answer!
Historically speaking, Matisse has always been a favorite (since my early art history studying days). Today the other two that come to mind are Agnes Martin and Anish Kapoor. But behind their names other artist names are already starting to flood into my mind…that’s not a hard question, it’s an impossible question to answer!
What is your favorite city in the world for art?
I love discovering art in all cities! I was in Edinburgh, Scotland this summer and discovered a lot of art I hadn’t anticipated or known about. My yearly visits to New York City are always inspiring. Through all my years in this business I’ve built many rewarding colleague relationships in that city that continue to dial me into amazing art adventures and discoveries. Art Basel Miami provides continuous insight into the global art market and art buying trends. London is always a favorite as is Venice during the Venice Biennale. I wish I could get to South America. It offers a vibrant art culture but for one reason or another, it’s been hard for me to get there. And of course, I love the LA art scene more than ever. You don’t have to travel far anymore to dial into a major contemporary art scene. Downtown LA has a very vibrant art scene now. PS: Big on my art bucket list: Japan’s art island: Naoshima, Japan.
What are your favorite galleries to visit when you go out of town?
Another hard question and very difficult to narrow down my answer. If we reference “out of town” but stay within an 80 mile radius I would say Hauser and Wirth Gallery in Los Angeles ranks at the top. A stop at Edward Cella Gallery, Susanne Vielmetter gallery, Walter Macias, Blum and Poe and Denk gallery are frequent and always favorite stops of mine too. Quint Gallery in San Diego is another gallery that never disappoints.
How do you discover new artists? Do they come to you, or do you go out and find them?
I would say I usually find the artists that I work with rather than vice versa. I am constantly looking at art via art fairs, gallery visits, artist studio visits, internet, publications, etc. I also meet artists on a referral basis, from friends in the industry and other artists that I know and work with.
How did you come across artist Carin Gerard?
My former business partner Diane Nelson introduced me to her work.
What did you see in her art that made you want to have a show for her?
So much of this business is about building relationships. Getting to know someone and really understanding what drives their artistic process is what builds the dialogue between each other; a trust and desire to work together. I have so much admiration for Carin as an artist and person. Seeing her dedication to her work, her art making methodology and commitment brought me closer to her art. Her compositions are sophisticated and compelling and she has mastered her painting technique. When you look at a lot of art you start to recognize quality quickly. It was important for me to pinpoint a highly developed artist that focused on representational subject matter. She filled a niche that was missing at SCAPE and I’m thrilled to be working together.
How important is the gallery itself and seeing and feeling art in person, versus the online presence and being able to buy art online and not having an in person experience.
I don’t think you can fully experience a piece of art emotionally or physically, until you stand in front of it. Seeing art online never tells the full story; you don’t really get to see the hand of the artist, or get the true sense of scale of an artwork. Online experiences are great for introductions and preliminary research on artists and their work but nothing can compare with in-person viewing.
Are there any trends in art right now, and do you foresee an upcoming trend in what is popular?
I hesitate toward the word “trend” because that implies that something is popular now but may not be later. I love to keep my focus on art that is timeless and here to say, that transcends being “trendy”. That being said though, there are some styles of art that are more highly regarded today than before. I would say that is true of “street art”, It was at one time just “graffiti” and a low art form that defaced public property. Now people are seeking out those artists and style of artwork for their home and/or corporate office settings.
How do you determine pricing, especially for a new artist?
A lot of things are taken into consideration: mostly the artist’s level of education, resume and exhibition history. Size of an artwork and it’s medium factor into pricing as well.
Do most of the artists you represent stay with you indefinitely, or do artists move around for representation?
I have been lucky and have built solid, long lasting relationships with nearly all of the artists I work with. But sometimes another gallery will require an artist to sign an exclusive agreement with them. If that is advantageous for the artist, we may shift our relationship of how we continue to work together.
You have quite the collection of art books. Which are your favorites?
I love the large monographs on contemporary artists,many of which relate to exhibitions that I saw and experienced in person, through travels, etc. The Daily Practice of Painting by Gerhardt Richter, Agnes Martin “Writings” and The Brutality of Fact; Interviews with Francis Bacon by David Sylvester are my favorite books that delve into the creative process.
You are an Orange County, CA local. Can you share some of your favorite restaurants?
Two favorites that are in close proximity to SCAPE are Bamboo Bistro and Summer House. Oh, and there is always Zinc Cafe in Corona del Mar for breakfast and lunch. One can’t forget that! Favorite neighborhood restaurants in and around my “hood” are: Olea, Eat Chow, Filomena’s (Italian). Favorite pizza hands-down, is Mozza.
You are also quite fashionable! Where do you love to shop?
I like to seek out small boutiques. I shop more when I travel, less at home. Bow Danglers, Ruti on Abbot Kinney and a few favorite boutiques in Manhattan Beach are frequent stops as is Adornments in Cherry Creek (my home town of Denver, CO). Otherwise, I’m a catalogue shopper. Garnet Hill and Poetry tend to be my go-to’s.
With all the traveling that you must have done over the years, we would love to know your favorite hotels to stay when traveling …
I tend to seek out small boutique hotels when I travel. And I usually know someone in the area of travel so I always ask for their input. I like to switch it up and try new places based on recommendations. If I go the large corporate hotel route, I am pretty loyal to Starwood Hotels and Resorts due to a credit card rewards program.
Can you tell us about your family and how you juggle family and work while running a business?
I’m very lucky that everyone in my family has leaned into being independent, self-reliant and not too needy. I do try to stay very conscious about drawing boundaries for myself. I have had to learn to be comfortable leaving work unfinished until the next day. Because there is ALWAYS “several more things” to do every day at the end of each day. The art world is a very social world and I’ve also had to become comfortable not attending all the evening activities that are associated with my business. It seems like there is always an art opening, museum event, lecture or fund raising event to attend. The price of being away from my family at night, after I’ve been gone all day is too great. I try to limit evening commitments to one event a week. I also aim to limit my weekend hours at the gallery and work by appointment; letting my employees work the gallery most Saturdays.
Thanks for taking the time to talk to AOBF! We loved getting to know you and your art world!
I consider it an honor. Thank YOU!
SCAPE Gallery
2859 E. Coast Highway
Corona del Mar, CA 92625
949.723.3406
info@scapesite.com
IG: @scapegallery
