I am a snob. I hold my hands up, I've been caught red-handed sneering at the stuff they sell in galleries. It's it's tacky, un-inspired, expensive and mass produced. Sometimes the exhibitions are no better...
I am, of course, talking about the obligatory shop. There's a certain gallery, which will remain nameless - for now - which seems, in my eyes, to position itself as the pillar of art society. I walk through it frequently, i sometimes look at the exhibitions and occasionally like what I see but in the shop, by the entrance, there is a vast amount of 'tack'! Gift shop fodder, not even art related... To me it suggests that this behemoth and it's patrons are not really thinking about what they are seeing. It may not wish to be cutting edge but I'd still expect a gallery to stake its reputation on quality.
Lets think about other galleries - how about the Arnolfini - large shop, small amount of 'tack' but lots of books and other items relevant to its exhibits. How about Antler, the nomadic gallery? Well they have a shop but it's selling small, affordable art works.
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