Artists emerge

Many art students are gearing up for their first professional gallery show, through the benefit of a one-of-a-kind mentoring program.

Fourteen senior fine arts majors from the Laguna College of Art & Design’s professional studies course will exhibit their work at 14 galleries during the December First Thursdays Art Walk, held from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 7.

The professional studies class is taught by Robin Fuld, a 22-year art-business veteran, currently managing J Kamin Fine Art. The course is required for senior fine art majors at the college.

“I had been to a Laguna College event and thought the quality of the work and the academics that were being taught there were fantastic,” Fuld said. “It occurred to me that there wasn’t much involvement between the galleries and the college.”

Fuld was on the Art Walk board at the time, and her friend was teaching the professional studies class at the college. Fuld shared her thoughts with her friend, who suggested that they utilize the students in her class. The first mentoring program was born.

“The following year, my friend stepped down and offered me her class — so I started teaching it,” Fuld said. “This is our fifth year now, and it’s been so welcome by the galleries. Now many of them are even employing students. Many have gone on to be sales associates, administrative assistants or support staff.”

“After the program, there’s this rewarding, long-term connection,” said Marion Cuddyer of Marion Meyer Fine Art, a participating gallery.

Fuld said she began by contacting member galleries about participating in the program. “Now they start contacting me and saying they want to do it next year,” she said.

She said she takes many things into consideration when assigning students to galleries, including the student’s body of work and the gallery’s own qualities. Fuld added that it’s difficult to assign students pursuing one type of art with an exact gallery fit, though.

“I never know if I’m going to have a more contemporary student or how many contemporary galleries will be available,” she said. “The focus is on the professional experience, so I prefer to use the word ‘assign,’ not ‘match.’ ”

“I’ve just been so happy with who I’ve been set up with, and it’s really such a great opportunity to put our work out there and get the experience,” said student Katie Schmid, who is working at Contemporary Chinese Fine Art.

This year’s program began in early November. Students made initial contact with the gallery, setting up an appointment to show their work using slides or digital images. They also went through a detailed checklist of topics to cover, including consignment procedures, advertising and the gallery’s philosophy.

“The students get to use the tools that they learn in my class — pricing, consignment forms, resumes — everything that being a professional artist entails when they approach a gallery,” Fuld said.

A 2 1/2 hour panel discussion with gallery representatives and professional artists was held on Nov. 15 for the students. Students described it as informative.

Each gallery determines which items it will show. Cuddyer said she selects pieces based partially on her clients’ preferences.

“Of course, I do want to make a sale,” she said.

However, when sales are made, the galleries do not receive a portion of the price; a percentage benefits the Art Walk and the college’s scholarship fund.

“Students are incredibly grateful for sales, especially in the holiday season,” Fuld said. “For many, it is their first ‘professional’ sale.”

Cuddyer added that there are other, more intangible benefits to participating. “It brings people into the gallery who might not normally come by,” she said.

“I think she’s excellent for the school; her class is probably one of the best at Laguna College,” said student Eddie Brisco, who is working with the Esther Wells Collection.

“She is very insightful, and knows about the process of selling art,” student Noah Thomas said. “She is a really good communicator, and just a positive person to work with.”

Fuld assigned Cuddyer to student Anna Harrah, who will exhibit three examples of her textile art at the gallery during Art Walk.

To craft her Cigarette Dress, Harrah collected old cigarettes while studying in Aix-en-Provence for the summer. She used them to form a wide belt or obi in the ethereal costume. The skirt is composed of diaphanous Zig Zag rolling paper pockets which hold tobacco; hand-quilted fabric used in the bodice was dyed with wine and coffee. The effect is stunning from a distance, but equally startling up close.

For the Art Walk, the student is armed with their artist’s statement and resume, and has acquired the skills to talk with the public about their work in a professional manner, Fuld said.

“Each gallery is different, and after the Art Walk, the class meets for a wrap-up,” Fuld said. “It’s amazing to hear each student’s experience; they share it and they all learn from each other.”

Thomas has been assigned De Ru’s Fine Art. “I’ve gotten some really positive feedback on my work,” he said. “They led me along a road that would be more sellable.”

“This program’s very special, and creates an awareness on both sides; for the student, awareness of the business, and for the gallery, awareness that we have a very fine academic college in this town. These are talented emerging artists,” Fuld said.

Participating galleries and students in this year’s mentoring program are La Bottega Dell’Acquaforte (Ryann Brady); Bluebird Gallery (Lindsay Jaggers); Contemporary Chinese Fine Art (Katie Schmid); Cove Gallery (Nickole Squires); Dawson Cole Fine Art (Daina Mattis); De Ru’s Fine Arts (Noah Thomas); the Esther Wells Collection (Eddie Brisco); Forest Avenue Fine Art (Christian Enns); Gallery McCollum (Julie Papple); Laguna Fine Arts (Adrienne Stein); Mandarin Fine Art Gallery (Errol Silverstein); Marion Meyer Contemporary Art (Anna Harrah); the Redfern Gallery (Matthew Zumberge) and Whitney Gallery (Tony Lemos).