Millennium Fever in Retrospect – Priceless Art at the Heart of Obscurity

The year was 2K, the month January – the matrix was pregnant with anticipation and expectancy – millennium fever was well under way! At this time I decided to put on a show of paintings (about 350 in all) in Penzance (Cornwall, UK), entitled ‘Priceless and Obscure’ and told the punters: “Take it away and pay me whatever you think it’s worth!”

Heart of North Cornwall

Can you imagine walking round an art gallery under these circumstances? You didn’t even have to pay anything when you took your painting away – just post the money on to me, even post-dated cheques if you wish – whatever you want. Oh yes – and you can take however many pieces you want  – no sweat!

[It was rather like the UK TV advert where you can tell the bank exactly what you want and what conditions you wish to make – and they give you everything!]

Looking back now, I think the show was part of my bid to learn to trust in the universe, (like not locking my car). And, although I was eking my living as an artist, I’d also got problems pricing my work in galleries. But I figured people would respect my priceless and obscure arrangement – seeing as they were getting a real bargain in original art – and surely nobody would want to take unfair advantage of me – would they??!

Well how did it go? I know you must be itching to know! 150 paintings went out of the door in two weeks. I took the remainder of the show down and waited eagerly for the post. Some money had begun to trickle in before the exhibition ended, with one or two wonderful letters of appreciation from old dears who had never been able to afford ‘real’ paintings – “and here’s my five pounds dear, for the small one I took – I shall really treasure it”, etc. And then came letters with small cheques for large paintings – or maybe additional promises of more money to come in instalments. (Remember all this was in their hands; I’d left it entirely up to them.)

And finally there were the two letters I received from local prominent town businessman – a solicitor and a councillor, who had taken five paintings each – real art collectors I’d been told. Undoubtedly in cahoots together, these gents each sent me a straight £100 (approx. $150)  for the five pieces that they’d each taken . . . . Surely they’d be sending more I thought??!

After six months the £1500 I’d gleaned from the show just about covered the cost of hiring the gallery space and the material costs in the 150 paintings (at a push), and my self-esteem had taken a nosedive toward Hades. The councillor and the solicitor were sitting on ten of my best pieces of work for £200 the lot, and by this time the penny had finally dropped - I knew they weren’t sending me any more dosh!

I decided to send a letter of ‘encouragement’ to everyone who’d taken pictures and not paid (enough!) or not honoured their own instalment plan – and waited again. And waited – and waited . . . But millennium fever was beginning to subside – and me – well I suppose I was getting somewhat nonplussed by it all . . .

But there were further developments – so watch this blog!

For now,

Yours,

Reminiscing Steve 

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