The First Few Weeks

A few things I've learned so far:

Quickbooks - This program is a lot simpler then I would have thought. I can do a number of things through the program now. I can (and have) write estimates, receipts, and invoices.

Working on Main Street can be dangerous - There are many great restaurants, shops, and bars on the street. Every time I walk to my car, "Ohhh, that's cute. When I get paid... No! Must, save, money!"

I still need to learn more about sales, how to get someone more interested in what they are looking at. I guess that will come with more experience. I hope.

I've written a handful of estimates for pieces. I suppose I just need to continue to follow up with them. I keep crossing my fingers for a responds to my calls, or emails. Anything. The assistant director, Kelly, is a marvel. People are always calling her back. I hope I just have to give it time, and to learn more. I have been trying to watch her carefully

I have luckily had the opportunity to show off my small amount of experience with InDesign. I created their Father’s Day promotion email. It’s nice to be able to do something for the gallery that no one else really has the know how to do. We all have our own strengths and talents. It’s nice to be valuable to the gallery.

The director Deborah, when it’s slow, sends me to the other galleries on the street. It’s nice that she wants us to know what else is going on in the community. I’ve been to many of the galleries before but I always love seeing what they have this month. I’ve been to: The Phoenix Gallery, Nature’s Images, and the Kimble Art Center.

I love the pieces the Phoenix has. They are all so textural. There are some really great pieces in there. I suggest you check them out sometime. Also, while you are on Main St, come visit me at Scanlan Windows to the World.

I hope to see you soon, here is to the future!

Big News

I am now officially employed! Yes my friends, Erin Carr works in a gallery. I have a job in the field that I spent four years learning. I think it's pretty cool.


I had an interview about a month ago with Deborah Flamish of Scanlan Windows to the World. She didn't hire me because I didn't have enough sales experience but the interview went so well she told me she would give my resume to a gallery down the street. One which she has close connections with.

In my quest to get in touch with the gallery during Park City's mud season I continued to stay in touch with Deborah. One day that I called there was a pause on the other end and suddenly she says, "Let me call you back, I'm going to do some math. I think I can give you a position." About half an hour later Deborah called back asking when I could start.

I have worked there for a week or two now. I really enjoy it, the people, what I'm learning, the location, it's a great place for me to be right now. I wrote up two estimates last week, so hopefully I will make my first two sales some time soon.

I'm excited to learn.

Main Street Galleries - Park City, UT

Friday my uncle allowed me to borrow his car to get up to Park City.

Park City's main street has around 20 galleries, and a few more located off of main street. I dropped of around 13 resumes at 13 different galleries.

So I would like to thank the following galleries for putting up with me and allowing me to drop off my resume.

Julie Nester Gallery
Thomas K. McCarthey Gallery
Thomas Anthony Gallery
Mountain Trails Gallery
Gallery MAR
The Phoenix Gallery
Scanlan Windows to the World
Coda Gallery
Rich Haines Galleries
West Light Images

I would like to give a special shout out to Barb at Stanfield Fine Art.

She was very sweet and helpful. She sent me down to the Redstone Gallery. There is some potential for part time work. Now let's just hope I can get my car fixed by the time I need to get up there. That is, if I get the job.

Saturday was another productive day.
I had lunch with Erin Lander of the Kimball Art Center. She gave me more great advice. I'm forever thankful. I will for sure take any chance I can get to help the Kimball Art Center.

As soon as I was done with lunch with her I stopped by A Gallery to drop off my application and resume.

Now all I have to do is finish dropping off resumes down here in Salt Lake City. I think the Kayo, will be the next stop.

Please employment gods, point something good in my direction!

Looking for work, working for art

Looking for Work
My big plan to look for work last weekend did not go as planned. Computers and snow, AKA the Universe, were against me.

My big plan was to finish the last edit of my resume grab my list of Park City, UT galleries and drive up the hill. Saturday did not go as smoothly as that. My computer was moving slower then as if I was on dial-up, and word was not letting me format the way I wanted; and so I decided to run to campus and finish it. This was fine with me, I decided to use InDesign instead of Word.
However, the computers on campus had apparently been fraternizing with my computer. Nothing wanted to work the first time through, including spell check.

As I sat in the library wanting to strangle the computer's cords the weather decided it wanted to turn from a small drizzle of rain to a small snow storm.

At this point, I said "Okay, fine then. I'll finish this as quickly as possible and just trek around Salt Lake." Well the computer decided to fight with me until 3 p.m.. I made it to one, and only one gallery.

The gallery was pretty amazing, and the woman at the front desk seemed very friendly. So I picked up an application for the A Gallery. I will fill it out this week and go back next weekend.

The next day I found that it was a good thing I didn't make it up the hill. At midnight I went to move my car for the neighbors and it died. Sunday I took it to Pep boys and found out I need a new fuel pump. I also found out a couple other things:

• Fuel pumps are expensive
• Pep boys rip people off
  

I couldn't afford to have them install a new pump for 8hundred-and-some-odd dollars. So in the end I paid them 130+. I paid for a tow there, for them to tell me what is wrong with the car ($90!) and a tow home. Needless to say I'm car-less and broke.

Working for Art
Other then looking for a gallery who would love to have me around, I've been scanning some negatives and working on my art.

I got the film back from Borge that I shot in San Diego. There are some great shots and I thought I would share some.


Toes in the Sand


The World is a Bubble


Life is a Beach

I haven't finished working on all of the photos but these are my favorite so far.


Along with working on these and some new works I was contacted by the school paper about my pieces in the student show. The reporter said I'm one of her main focuses. I'm excited to see what she has written.

When the paper is posted online I'll link back to it here.

Looking for Work This Weekend and Next
This weekend I will be taking the bus all around down town Salt Lake City going from gallery to gallery. So, if you see me out there wave and wish me luck.

I will also be meeting with Erin Lander the Exhibition Director of the Kimball Art Center next weekend for lunch. She signed up to "Take a Griffin out to Lunch." The gist is she is a graduate of Westminster and she has offered to let me ask her about what she does and the art gallery business. I'm excited to talk shop with her.

She offered to show me around the gallery, but sadly I have no way of getting up the hill, so she was nice enough to offer to come down to Salt Lake. Hopefully I will gain some wise knowledge about what galleries look for in someone they are thinking about hiring.