Shaw Gallery — Attraction in Naples

I found the staff at this gallery to be incredibly rude. After making a comment about a painting, my wife told the saleswoman that I was an artist. (I dabble in art and have fun with it but surely don t consider myself an accomplished artist. She was just being a proud wife). The woman said, "Did he go to school to study art?", then turned to me and asked "What gallery are you in?" I replied, "I'm not , I just enjoy it in my free time." She said, "Then you are not an artist. People come in here all the time and say they are artists. That is like saying I am an accountant because I balance my checkbook. These artists studied art, live art, and make a living doing art." Needless to say, this woman was anything but an ambassador for promoting the arts. To create such an elitist attitude about art is a shame. I would hope the artists she represents don t share the same attitude that pushes others away...

I am both an artist and art teacher. I did study art, live art, make a portion of my living from art sales and instruction. However, I do not show my work in a gallery, so does that mean that I'm not really an artist?

One of my students was recently in the Shaw Gallery and experienced an unprofessional and negative attitude towards those who, like him, are very talented, creative and skilled yet don't choose to do their work for the purpose of showing and selling it. After talking with a salesperson at the gallery with an "attitude", his friend walked away from purchasing a $4500 painting that he had intended to purchase.

This is the very reason why I DON'T show my work in a gallery. To me, a true artist is someone who has a passion for creating and does so for his/her OWN sake! Please don't discourage and squash those who are following...

Not friendly. Lack of service. You walk the entire gallery and one young lady sits behind the computer yelling tidbits about the art while a husky fellow comes from behind a dark closet to admonish customers that were discussing an idea for a niece to paint a portrait of themselves. Not sure why the rude and eavesdropping employee felt the need to correct that conversation but no one even tried to explain the idea or process of what appeared to be acrylics on display. Maybe if they spent more time greeting and spreading knowledge instead of hate we all could be enlightened enough to become...