Gallery Girls

It is a hot topic week in the art world... Outspoken political artist Ai Weiwei has been arrested in China, the New Museum held its annual gala, and Bravo TV announced its upcoming roster of shows, including...

Gallery Girls.

"Gallery Girls is a docu-series following the lives of 6 young, 20-something women that work in New York City’s hippest art galleries. By day they juggle the stresses of their demanding bosses, maneuver through the complicated world they find themselves in and struggle to figure out how to get ahead in a business with so few opportunities to rise up the ranks. By night they are out at the hippest clubs, bars and art scene functions as they juggle their personal friendships, romantic relationships and art world acquaintances. For all these girls, their love for NYC is unwavering but their footing in the art world is anything but solid. Is this what they really want? Will they be able to survive in this business?"

Did I mention I was tapped to be on this show?

In light of the utter tomfoolery and shenanigans that will undoubtedly be this program, a rather accurate and hilarious webcomic series has risen to art world awareness: http://www.ceceliawestgallery.com/. This website features a comic series featuring fictional gallery receptionist Bridget and her adventures in the New York art scene. Drinking, drugs, boys, bosses, boredom, and art occupy her thoughts as she contemplates suicide from within the white cube... it is funny. It is startling. It is sooo accurate. Though abstract and slightly exaggerated, it is a fun glimpse into the weird world that my friends and I occupy, and I invite you to take a look...

Most galleries operate on a Tuesday through Saturday schedule. This works out well for the most part, because if you play your cards right, it is almost like having a 3-day weekend... until Tuesday comes.

Gallerinas often get a bad rap for being less than welcoming from their post at the reception desk. If you only knew the demanding bosses, menial tasks, and overqualified but underpaid jobs we suffer.

Sometimes tempted by better offers...

....so we don't end up like this.

The days can be long.

And the competition can be fierce.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a given.

.

Resulting in escapism.

But, would we want it any other way?

All images courtesy Mary Blakemore, www.ceceliawestgallery.com

Horrified? You should be.

xx,

mary

PS- This post is dedicated to all of my friends in the art world, including but not limited to: Leigh, Laura, Sophie, Lauren, and Lauren M. Thank you for keeping me (relatively) sane.