Look around at any art opening. The majority of attendees are other artists. Twas always thus.

True collectors often don't attend openings.

Perhaps this might be a marketing issue?

Who are the people that you want to attend these events? By what means do you attempt to attract their attention? Are "collectors" your only potential market?

I have two sons in the arts and I note that many times they appear to be satisfied to perform to a selected audience, when financial success in their chosen fields requires larger numbers of participants.

A valid arguement could be made that this would "commercialize" their talent and efforts. True enough ..... then again, what are one's goals?

Great post, Arthur!

I attended the excellent event as well (kudos to Susan Porter and Addison Woolley Gallery) and saw the same people.

Yet, while Arthur might think I am merely a dealer, I have bought several photographs this year myself - including works by Brendan Bullock and Michael Heiko as well as others. Many of those artists in the room have some pretty decent collections as well.

Sharky is right about the openings - I rarely sell anything at openings. Collectors want attention from the dealer when making a big purchase, so openings are the worst possible time for serious and extended dialogue about a work.

With any business, developing clientele takes time - usually years. Portland is experiencing amazing growth in the gallery world and along with that - growing pains. A year ago, our only professional gallery dedicated to photography (Domaine on Commercial Street) was in its second season and showed a very specific type of scenic - albeit extraordinarily high qualify - photography.

Between the shows at the PMA and the University of New England and the expertise of the likes of Sharon Corwin at Colby and Susan Danly and organizations like the Bakery Collective, Maine and the Portland area are in the first steps of a massive photography presence. At Susan Maasch Gallery, you can see - AND PURCHASE - works by the likes of Ansel Adams and Robert Mapplethorp. How cool is that?

Maine is absolutely one of the best places in the country for art, but it has always been more of a place where artists go to work than a place renowned for its venues. Certainly, the venues are catching up, but the market as a whole has a big problem right now - which is splattered all over the front pages of every newspaper in the country today.

If anyone reading this is interested in becoming a photo collector, I would suggest that you go to the galleries that show photography on a regular basis. While thoughts differed on the role of the auctions like the Bakery's major annual event in Westbrook, I would advise you to go to that since it's a reasonable way to add to your collection and support the photographic community at the same time.

New York's art market has been featuring photography above all else for about 10 years. The rest of us are just catching up.

It will happen.

You're right about the NY photo market, Mr. Kany. Just follow the arts listings in New Yorker magazine and notice the balance of photography listings compared to painting, drawing and other visual arts.

I might suggest the photography market is becoming saturated, much as the print market became a number of years ago.

On the other hand, photography is one of the most accessible mediums for novice collectors.

In a side note, he "Picnic" event in Lincoln Park this past weekend, while geared more towards local craftspeople and artisans, was a wonderful opportunity to meet local artists and purchase work at reasonable prices.

Also, Maine has such a deep culture of local painting, collectors have less reason to float away on the broader whims of the art world.

As well, one of the appeals of collecting photography in NY, for example, is that you can own so many photos and merely keep them in a flat file. Moreover, with editions, market values in a big market place like NYC are clearly developed and articulated. The closest thing we have are prints by Homer or the Wyeths.

Photography is coming to Maine, however. The last Biennale at the PMA was chock a block with photographs. The PMA, under Susan Danly, has also put on a bunch of great photography shows (as well as the other venues mentioned above). I think the presence of so many galleries that are featuring photographs is terrific.

I would suggest everyone go and visit Addison Woolley, Domaine and Vox Photographs. They are great galleries (Vox is by appointment, so call first).

As well, don't miss the André Kertész exhibition, On Reading, which will be at the PMA through November 16.

The photography community is indeed coming together. Five new dealers in Portland alone in the last two years, the Portland Museum steadily exhibiting photography - these are the signs of something happening.

I have a blog on fine art photography in Maine - it is highly regarded and a great place to stay in touch, engage and learn.
Please join me there.
blog.voxphotographs.com.

As well, my webgallery is always open. I welcome visitors to the private viewing gallery in Portland, as well as to our very popular receptions. Please...get connected whether you are a collector, dealer or one of those wonderful fine art photographers. Photography collecting is highly addictive, affordable and hot! Maine is fast catching up!