20 Years and Counting:

Interview with Ellen Chuse and Karen Gibbons

440 Gallery is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a group show featuring the many member artists who have shown and participated in the gallery over the years. It is a tremendous accomplishment and testament to the founders and all the contributing artists that not only is 440 Gallery still here, it is thriving.

Ellen Chuse and Karen Gibbons, two long-time members of the gallery have agreed to answer a few questions from Catherine Orrok, a relatively new member about what the gallery was like early on and how it has changed.

C.O. Thanks Ellen and Karen for taking the time to share your experiences at 440 Gallery. Since joining the gallery I have been impressed with the spirit of camaraderie here at 440, and it has filled a gap in my artistic practice. I was wondering if we could talk about what led you to join a cooperative gallery.

K.G. Ellen and I were studio mates at the time, and she joined the gallery probably close to a year before I did. Seeing her thrive in that community allowed me to consider it. I originally had a preconceived idea about artist collectives. When I first came to NYC I was drawn to the concept but when I saw the generally low quality work and heard tales of interpersonal issues, I felt I should steer clear.

Then I began seeing some really interesting shows at 440 and found that all of the members had very different, but also really excellent work. Once I spoke with Nancy Lunsford about the gallery I became impressed with Nancy and Shanee’s unique approach. I liked that it was not a “democracy”, but instead they used a rubric to determine who might be an appropriate member with the quality of the work at the top of the list. I liked that you could show wherever else you pleased, and I liked that you had a drawer and a presence at the gallery at all times. It was especially important for me that the gallery was a home where you have the key so that you as a member can let the space and resources work for you.

E.C. The short answer is community. I’ve been a member of 440 Gallery for 18 years. I joined in January 2007. Having found a wonderful studio in Gowanus in 2000 I was meeting artists again which felt great. A few artists I knew were also part of this new artist collective 440 Gallery and I was invited to apply for a membership. I had been in their first small works show, so I knew the space and it seemed like a great opportunity. The rest is history.

C.O. Twenty years is quite a bit of time, and so much can happen over such a long span. How has the gallery transformed over the years that you have been here?

E.C. Wow. Big changes! The gallery opened in 2005 and was a joint venture by two Park Slope artists, Nancy Lunsford and Shanee Epstein. They had been looking for a place to show and sell their work, and found it at 440 6th Ave. When I joined it was completely artist-run with Nancy and Shanee essentially the mothers. All jobs were done by artist members and the structure was very loose, but we had a great sense of community and managed to find our way — often by trial and error. Over time, step-by-step, we developed more structure and became more organized and professional. Now we are a small corporation and have a part-time paid director and bookkeeper. Committees are more defined and our approach to all aspects of running the gallery is more sophisticated. The internet and social media have helped to streamline things like PR and outreach. We’ve become well-known within the Brooklyn artist community and beyond for the outstanding quality of the artwork, our professionalism, and maintaining our welcoming vibe.

K.G. Well, the cast of characters is ever-shifting, which is a wonderful way to keep things vital. Nancy and Shanee set up a system that was never written in stone, instead it was meant to be periodically re-evaluated and overhauled and I think we are at our best when we maintain that spirit. From my perspective, it was a blow to lose Shanee and Nancy at the same time, but Amy Williams turned out to be just what the doctor ordered to bring in a bit more structure and streamlining. Creating the role of “director” has made a huge difference, and Amanda also brought a breath of fresh air. And now we have Pam as our new director. I think we as a gallery have settled in to the concept that one of our greatest strengths is embracing change, and I look forward to the changes to come along with our newest members.

C.O. Yes! Embracing change is very healthy for an organization I think, and it will be exciting to see what the future holds for 440. I am curious about how the gallery has helped you in your own personal art practice.

E.C. I hardly know where to begin. Both the joy and terror of having regular solo shows snapped me into action as an artist. Art making can be a very solitary practice and having a focus, knowing that you have a place to show regularly, is a great gift. In addition, the support and feedback from other gallery artists is amazing. With time I’ve learned to understand my own work more deeply, to speak about it intelligently, to present my work professionally, and to hang it well. Being a member of the gallery has opened new opportunities for expanding my art practice and my art community. It’s the gift that keeps on giving!

C.O. How about you, Karen?

K.G. When I first joined, I had recently gotten my Master’s in Art Therapy. I wanted to have a strong reason to maintain my art practice even as I embarked on a new career. 440 Gallery has proven to be the ideal counterpart to my work life. I generally don’t have an issue producing work, but the idea that I am creating work that will be seen in a self-curated solo show every 2+ years is a wonderful way to observe your own growth. Having mates that know your work and bring you encouragement is so valuable. What could be a lonely pursuit becomes, as a 440 member, a community adventure.

C.O. Thank you very much, Ellen and Karen!

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