440 Gallery — Attraction in New York

I have been in more gallery shows than I can count, as well as festivals, pop-ups, and more interactive art programs. I am well-educated and have a firm understanding of business practices and personal rights. As my situation is dire right now, I have been too pòor and in too much physical pain to enter any shows this year. But then one caught my eye, again and again It was for a show that spoke directly to my passion, my current reason for living when my body is ready to succumb to illness. I noticed that the artists who would run the show had worked with people I respect. But I had no money. I managed to get the art ready and pay for the frames, the excruciating pain of using my hands to choose originals and purchase frames, insert them, catalogie, package for the show, and submit. But I didn't have the cash. I felt weird gut feeling, those kind you should listen to, about how the fee waiver form wasn't a link to click and fill out, but an email I would have to send. So I sent the email and prayed Id get a simple link back. Nope. I got an email begging me to pay. This is absolute poison for me as someone with CPTSD and then I start feeling guilty because they wouldn't have extended the entry date that extra week had they not needed more money and participants. It was fate, I would finally rejoin the art world after being locked away in my crippled state for three years. So I paid for my registration of the max number of pieces, begging and fighting my spouse for it because its my grocery money during a time with no foodstamps, but my love of art said my soul would be more nourished by contributing to the team.

After submission I found out you'd have to wait a month for answers. My mother is dying and her mind isn't always there. I got to speak with her one day when she was cognizant enough to remember things she loved and so. I mentioned the art show and the connection to DC Comics and Marvel Comics, which made her mind light up thinking about her favorites. She forgot before I could ever disappoint her with what really happened. They took my money, said not one of ten pieces would be in the show, and refused to give my money back. I had originally asked for a fee waiver, remember? Before you guilted me? Perhaps the whole organization isn't rotten, just the manager they hired. Her reply was "If I did it for you then I'd have to do it for everyone else." Which directs to two possibilities: You do this all the time, and have droves of unemployed disabled people begging you for their 'donation' back, which indicates a mass injustice against the poorest and most talented people in the borough (the ones you should be trying to help rise up, and in turn acquiring street cred); or

This never happens, so making the decision in my favor wouldn't hurt you and wouldn't impact the business, but your inability to make a decision of such low value shows your managerial skills.

I could still file a chargeback, hold protests, lambast them in social media and across my art associations, speak to the district council and the arts commission, as well as the Better Business Bureau in regards to the concept of 'donations' and not really being a non-profit, the sky is the limit. But I'd prefer to retain my mental health. Because this breaks my heart, that they weren't real, that they would steal from me and hurt me so with the last shred of hope I had left.

As a longterm diversity coordinator, art advocate, and lifelong poor brown person, I find all of the options unappealing.

Never in my life have I paid the fee and then not been in the show. This has been quite an ugly look for an artist-run gallery that presumably wants to embrace the local community, especially one who feels displaced. But true to classic tonedeaf nature, the gentry have shown no sympathy, and I again looked like a fool to the real locals for trying to defend...

This gallery is quick to promote submissions from artists for different open call exhibitions with required “donations” but doesn’t even have the courtesy to offer any...

Charming gallery. The music performances are wonderful- during the intermissions everyone's friendly and you feel like you're in a small town- a nice place to meet...