by donald dusinberre imartsyfartsy@gmail.com
Truth be told, there are very few shops in Avondale where a person like me would feel comfortable. I can’t afford the clothes and I’m too smart to pay $9 for a wedge of iceberg lettuce. Whether by price, style, or snootiness, most of the Avondale shops and restaurants are way out of my league. So, by association, I should feel just as awkward walking into an art gallery nestled amongst these shops. And of course I was, but only at first.
Art stores disguised as galleries have always turned my stomach, and I was certain that the R. Roberts Gallery was going to be one of them. Obviously, the high price thing is sort of a big reason, and I’m naturally suspicious of people who would see works of art as dollar signs. But after a few moments inside, I actually began to feel comfortable. I remembered the most basic purpose of art: it exists to be experienced. Don’t let anyone tell you differently.
I was relieved to find out that the folks in the gallery felt the same way, and I was further put at ease by a pleasant conversation with Richard Roberts, the gallery’s namesake. As it turns out, he’s nothing like my worst assumptions. He’s very knowledgeable about current artists from all over the world, and it’s very obvious that he appreciates art. I can now tell you that you’re welcome to visit any art gallery, no matter what the price tags say. They are (at best) a secondary function of art.
For more than 13 years, the R. Roberts Gallery has been one of Jacksonville’s premier art galleries for buyers and collectors. They are responsible for outfitting some of the hippest restaurants in town, including Sterling’s, Biscotti’s, and BB’s. They also provide works to be displayed at the Jacksonville Artwalk. In addition to hosting famous artists’ works, they also offer custom framing, consultation, and restoration services.
Currently, they are displaying works by Impressionist masters, including Renoir, Cezanne, Pissarro, Cassatt, and Manet.
What I’ve come to realize through my conversation with Roberts is that the art world would not exist as fully as it does without the business of art. Buying and selling art is an undeniable necessity for any advanced society, as it ensures that there will always be a sufficient supply of artists creating artwork. Although the price of a quality painting seems exorbitant to many of us, it ensures that some of the bad artwork will be passed over and erased from existence (notice that I said some). If artwork is too affordable, then our sense of discretion and appreciation for quality is lost and we’re more likely to buy crap. It’s the same reason we buy frozen pizzas, they’re tasty for the price. Art prices are not set high to exclude the working class, they are used as a simple yet effective tool for quality control. The good artists become more successful than the bad ones and produce more work with some of the money they earn.
One of the main objectives of the R. Roberts Gallery is to consistently offer the latest styles and ideas by the world’s established artists. The Gallery focuses heavily on the prevailing trends of today, and they offer what they’ve found to those who can afford it. The best part is, you can finance your favorite piece. Even if you can’t afford the entire price up front, you can still buy it. So if you’ve been looking into buying a new car, buy a used one and a painting instead. If you’re looking for a used car, buy a painting and ride the bus. In ten years, you’ll still have the painting.
So, what do you do when you recognize the artists but can’t afford a single piece of artwork? Walk right in and enjoy them anyway. We may not all be wealthy, but we definitely have the right to decide for ourselves whether we’d like to own a painting. The R. Roberts Gallery asks you to be not afraid.
Learn more about the R. Roberts Gallery and their upcoming events by visiting their website at rrobertsgallery.com.
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