Birds know when to fly south; so do smart businesses. After three years of exhibitions, Migration: A Gallery, owned by local couple Rob and Laura Jones, announced via press release that it will close on January 26, 2009. Migration is the most recent business on the east end of the Downtown Mall to announce that it will shut its doors.
In a phone interview with C-VILLE, Rob Jones said that the decision to close Migration was made "months ago," and the recent economic turmoil had little to do with the decision to close the gallery. In fact, Migration will continue to sell work from its website, and represent its collection of artists at art fairs around the country.
"What we’ve found in last couple years is that we can attend and exhibit in an art fair and do quite well, primarily in exposure for the artists we represent there, and the bottom line, the dollars and cents. And then we come back to Charlottesville and make no sales," said Jones during a phone interview. More comments follow the photo.
Migration: A Gallery will close January 26, 2009, after three years of business, according to owners Rob and Laura Jones.
The loss may be felt more by fans of local galleries than the owners themselves. "For us, to spend a weekend in New York City and have 30,000 people come through and see our artists’ work, and then come back to Charlottesville and, in a month, have 10 people come through…it makes no sense," said Jones. "It’s not bad for us. It’s straight business-sense rationale…But, on the same note, we’re not a public service."
Read a review of Migration’s current show here. Rob Jones will also continue to operate his local art blog, ArtPark.
