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by Allan Appel | Apr 15, 2010 10:03 am

(9) Comments | Commenting has been closed | E-mail the Author

Posted to: Arts, Downtown

Allan Appel Photo At her last exhibition she sold $5,600 worth of art. It was not too little, but it was too late. Hull’s Gallery One Whitney, downtown New Haven’s last for-profit art gallery, is closing its doors for good.

The owner blamed the closely largely on the tanked economy.

Manager Barbara Hawes said if she had one more year, she could have made it work.

After nearly three years and 18 shows mostly of New Haven and Connecticut-based artists, to whom the gallery was devoted, Hawes (pictured) was in the process of wrapping it up Wednesday afternoon. (Meanwhile, a few miles west, a collection of five galleries are thriving in the heart of Westville Village; click here, here, here, here, and here to read about some events there.)

Until July 31, the Whitney Avenue space will remain leased by Hull’s, whose main store is on Chapel Street, but only as a site for spring and summer clearance sale of art supplies.

When the Whitney Avenue framing shop and gallery was launched in 2007, the economy seemed as if it could support the business.

“We perceived it as having proximity to a market segment that was not likely to walk up Chapel to come do framing with us,” said Stephen Kovel, Hull’s owner.

And it worked for a while. Lawyers and bankers, as opposed to academics and Yale-affiliated folks, were the primary customers for the paintings, photographs, collages, and occasional sculptures, like the work of steampunk artist Silas Finch.

The framing produced about a third of the revenue, Kovel said. That was typical for such a frame/gallery combination. But it was insufficient to keep up with costs.

“Framing and buying art are very discretionary,” said Kovel. When the economy softened and then grew worse, a decision had to be made.

That happened in February.

Hawes’ spring show was to have been “Line Dancing: A Writer’s Choice of Works on Paper”, co-curated with Stephen Kobasa (an Independent contributor). She had to make a difficult phone call to him. Fortunately another venue was found for that show; it can currently be seen through May 3 at A-Space@West Cove Studios in West Haven.

Hawes’ style is not to trumpet herself. But she takes pride in what she’s done at Hull’s, particularly her two Open Studio Encore exhibitions. She timed those after the city’s Open Studios in the fall so people could come to Hull’s to see her picks of what she thought the best, and what they had missed. She estimated that to find work that she loves, she’s made more than 300 studio visits.

“You’re the only one doing this, “ Hawes said grateful artists told her.

“My artists depend on me,’ she said.

Hawes said she has sold several hundred art works over the past three years, making many artists happy, but surely not rich. One of the last items going out is this photograph, “Amish Cemetery, PA, 2007,” by David Ottenstein.

Hawes still thinks the location is promising for a for profit gallery that appeals to a more moneyed, corporate clientele wanting to buy quality stuff and have a personal connection to artists, which Hawes specializes in providing.

“How can this be in New Haven? It’s a very sophisticated city, and no retail gallery? There’s plenty of money in this town. I’m baffled,” she said.

But not bitter. An 11-year employee, she’s grateful Kovel gave her the opportunity to test her muscles at something new after having sold art supplies and designed frames for the Chapel Street business.

Had she more time to market, Hawes said she planned to mount a One Whitney Biennial, a juried show, riffing on the Whitney Museum biennial in New York. She was also going to do an artist-of-the-month program bringing a group of selected people to visit artists’ studios.

She still may, but as a private consultant in the arts, into which career she said she will be stepping come July 31. That work won’t have a permanent physical locale, at least not yet, Hawes said.

“We need a voice and a home for Connecticut-based artists,” she said. By “home,” she also meant couches that she had planned for the back of the gallery; a coffee table with catalogs; and a data base of local artists where people could chat about art, have coffee, and then, maybe buy a print or arrange a visit to a studio

She had also wanted her business card to read “Hull’s: The Final Product.” That is, “After the brushes, paint, turpentine, canvas, stretchers, all add up to the beautiful paintings I have on the wall.”.

It was not to be for Hawes, at least not this time around.

Comments

posted by: davec on April 15, 2010 11:06am

May Barbara Hawes rise again somewhere else. Her energy and commitment to the artistic community is to be applauded.

steampunk…really?

posted by: Yvonne Manning-Jones on April 15, 2010 11:09am

Barbara is THE best!! I am going to miss Hull’s but I will miss Barbara even more. I really hope another venue opens up for her in the city.

She is very good at what she does. As a customer, I was surprised at how much I learned from her. I will think of her fondly every time I am complimented on my artistic choices.

I agree—“How can this be New Haven?”

posted by: Jennifer Jane on April 15, 2010 5:25pm

To quote Monty Python and the Holy Grail, “I’m not dead yet”. Hull’s is not the last of the for-profit or could we say commercial galleries in New Haven. Jennifer Jane Gallery located in New Haven in the bustling Westville Village Art District at 838 Whalley Ave and W Rock Ave is still alive and kicking for that matter. We have a Workshop with the current exhibiting artist, Sean Kernan this Saturday. A new exhibit, “8 EYES: Photographs by Four Extraordinary Painters, Mia Brownell, Nathan Lewis, Christopher Mir and Lawrence Morelli”, curated by Steve DiGiovanni (Creative Arts Workshop), opens on April 22nd with a reception from 5-8pm. Let alone the four additional for-profit art galleries in the district: DaSilva Gallery, Wunderlee Arts, Kehler-Liddell Gallery and the new Agoloccio:A Gallery.

posted by: Deirdre Gill on April 15, 2010 7:05pm

Though Hull’s is great… I found it to be a bit over priced and sometimes the people who work there weren’t always very friendly. I had one great experience there where I saved quite a bit by buying a frame there and going home and framing it myself instead of paying quite a bit to have it done in the shop.

There are quite a few Connecticut based artists and plenty of places for them to express themselves. One place that is on the top of my list is the Jennifer Jane Gallery in the Westville Village. Jennifer has long supported the CT photography scene and many other artistic ventures. Hull’s is not the last for profit gallery in New Haven. Try taking a closer look at Jennifer Jane’s place and you will be more than happy that you did!

posted by: Art for Art's Sake on April 15, 2010 10:31pm

Come to Westville and leave with an original piece of art or photo print. Where?? The Jennifer Jane Gallery of course!

posted by: Sepblues on April 16, 2010 7:09am

My most recent gallery purchases were from Keller- Liddell, and Jennifer Jane Galleries in Westville. Both remain open, and both are still located in New Haven. These Galleries are successful and competitive because they do more than sell art; they are community resources that promote art, educate, entertain and give back to the community that supports them. Westville’s Annual Artwalk Festival coming up on May 8, is an excellent time to discover all of Westville’s galleries and artists’ studios open to the public with extended hours.

posted by: Anika Singh Lemar on April 16, 2010 9:41am

I’m going to miss One Whitney—Barbara has a great eye for art and for framing. Custom framing is expensive but Hull’s is competitively-priced and the end product was always worth it. Barbara, I hope you consider giving this another go when the economy picks up—I’ll miss the gallery and the convenient location!

posted by: jen on April 16, 2010 5:23pm

I am sorry to read this. I had several things framed at this Hulls and bought a great print of a hyper-realist artist there that is a treasured possession. I liked the art there. I hope Barbara finds success in her new work, she’s a great person.

posted by: Bill Saunders on April 17, 2010 4:19am

To Some Posters…...

It is wrong to use this article as a point of semantics to promote your own galleries.

Barbara is a true friend to New Haven’s dwindling art scene. I have great respect and admiration for her genuine support.

Guess what Jennifer, she did this out of love, not commission,
Barbara didn’t make a cent above her modest hourly wage for her efforts. True Love.

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