Work by CG2 artists Andrea Heimer, Mark Sandberg and Fred Stonehouse
When it opened in February 2015, Joe Nolan wrote that CG2 carried with it “a platoon of emerging and mid-career artists whose work is a perfect match for a Wedgewood-Houston scene increasingly defined by new voices.” Later that summer, I wrote that “When it first opened, I considered that CG2 might be my new favorite gallery in Nashville, but it's quickly become my favorite Nashville gallery, full-stop.”
But last month was CG2's last — the gallery closed almost exactly two years after it opened. The question I keep coming back to is this: Does Nashville have what it takes to sustain a contemporary art scene? And if not, what does it take? I spoke with CG2's gallery director Jason Lascu via email to see what he had to say.
Why did CG2 close?
Closing the brick and mortar location was a tough decision. I believe the traditional gallery model, with a physical exhibition space, has changed and because of this we needed to reevaluate how to evolve with the times. Although CG2 Galllery has received critical acclaim, sales have remained static, with the bulk of our purchases coming from out-of-town sales through our website. While the artwork presented is challenging, the level of the art has never been in question. With recent shifts in how individuals view and buy artwork, I believe perhaps there are better options to explore to help continue the growth of CG2 Galllery. Our goal will be to continue working, collaborating, and connecting with people, and channeling our energy into new projects such as pop-ups, out-of-town exhibitions, and creating an extensive online presence for our artists.
Based on your experience with CG2, does Nashville have the capacity to sustain a contemporary gallery scene?
Nashville is an incredible city with so many great individuals. One can only hope it has the capacity to sustain a contemporary gallery scene. However, to be successful, Nashville has to be willing to support art galleries not only with their presence, but with their wallets. Otherwise, I am afraid that the city will see more and more galleries closing their doors.
What could have happened that would have made the gallery stay open? It was so great!
Unfortunately, over the last two years (outside of the art crawl), CG2 Galllery has seen infrequent foot traffic and local sales have been minimal at best. It has been really frustrating to work so hard and barely make ends meet, even without drawing a salary. In addition, with changing family obligations, I felt it necessary to close the brick and mortar location. Perhaps Nashville is not quite ready for the kind of work being shown at CG2 Galllery, or I was not able to reach my target market. Regardless, there is a need to educate the younger potential client to the “virtues” of collecting and living with original works of art.
Over the next few months, I am looking forward to analyzing creative new opportunities to explore for the gallery. I don’t see closing the brick and mortar location as an end, but a new beginning for CG2 Galllery.
