Committed to Furthering Our Creative Community
This time three years ago, I was working feverishly to open my gallery, Objets Trouves, in its first Oklahoma City venue.
I have always loved the arts, and artists and their work have been part of my life. There were artists in my family, and I majored in Art History in college. In addition, I worked in galleries and historic house museums, advocated for arts education and creativity in schools, and traveled extensively as a cultural leader, working with others to create innovative educational opportunities.
I also started collecting art along the way, beginning with a college-era purchase of an abstract still life by Virginia artist Jack Darling who had studied with the Provincetown artist and teacher Henry Hensche. The artist took pity on this poor college student and allowed me to make $10 monthly installments. The wonderful work remains in my home studio, where it continues to inspire and remind me of the humble beginnings of my collecting journey.
My foray into opening an art gallery was about my love for art and creating a community of people who shared that passion. I envisioned a "salon" space for collectors, artists, and anyone interested in learning more about art and growing a creative movement. It was, and is, an exciting prospect that seemed to merge my passions for creativity and connectivity.
The small space that started my journey three years ago was only 500 square feet, with room for artists and salon conversations. We quickly built momentum with exhibitions, gallery talks, and art sales. Then in March 2020, we opened a delightful show with works by Chris Brizzard when we received news the following day we would have to shutter the gallery due to COVID. That closure ended up as a four-month lockdown.
Susan McCalmont
How to stay connected to the emerging community of artists and supporters and how to sell art without a retail storefront required creative solutions. Unfamiliar with Zoom technology, I learned how to have virtual conversations with Northern Irish artist Noelle McAlinden, and before long, Noelle was conducting virtual visits to Oklahoma artist studios. The monthly calls grew with friends inviting friends until we had a community of 60 artists and friends worldwide sharing and supporting one another. One of those artists on the call was a programmer who developed a virtual gallery for us. It was amazing to move through our virtual gallery space, view works in detail, and have the option to purchase them online. We also stepped into the world of selling art online, beginning with an e-commerce platform on our website and Artsy and 1stDibs as our virtual storefronts.
A strategic and careful re-opening of the physical gallery in late 2020 precipitated a move to a larger retail space that shared a contiguous area with a high-end women's fashion store. The co-promotion across fashion, design, and art lines was another creative solution to marketing art in a precarious economic market.
The flourishing community of now 50+gallery artists has continued their monthly virtual conversations. Still, my desire to create a sustainable salon environment where people could physically gather around art offerings and discussions has only grown.
The opportunities ahead drive me, and I am thrilled to be able to share the next phase of the gallery's development in a few weeks. The launch of our new Oklahoma City space signifies a transformation that expands our creative community, furthers arts education, provides entertainment and valuable amenities, and continues to foster meaningful connections.
Please stay connected with us to learn more about our terrific news!
Susan McCalmont
