Succeeding at art – Kress Gallery curator helps artists gain exposure and business skills

Christopher Turner will tell you that he never envisioned himself in this role. As the curator for the Kress Gallery downtown, the one-time trucker turned visual artist displays a business acumen that makes him a natural fit for the job. Much of this business savvy was developed through his close relationship with his uncle, local R&B fusion musician Henry Turner Jr., and through exposure to his uncle’s marketing and development contacts in the music industry.

“He pulled me to the side and showed me different business formats and gave me a foundation to build from,” Turner remembers. “As a kid you really soak a lot in, and you don’t realize it until you use it.”

Since becoming curator last fall, Turner has not only assisted in selecting the gallery’s artwork and attracting private events to the space. He has also focused on bringing new ideas to the Baton Rouge arts scene. Inspired by panel discussions at Art Basel in Miami, Turner premiered an event series called “Artist’s Critique and Conversation” at the Kress Gallery in January. At each event, local artists received feedback from a panel of art experts, followed by a social hour.

Envisioned as a friendlier version of TV’s Top Chef or Shark Tank, the events are designed to provide an educational forum for the artists and to give the public a unique venue to learn about art. Panelists for the inaugural series included the likes of Randell Henry, associate professor of art at Southern University, and Robin Miller, art critic for The Advocate.

For future series, Turner is working to expand the list of guest panelists to include national magazine editors, architects and interior designers.

Taking cues from major metropolitan areas like Chicago and New York City, Turner also wants to expose the public to art in unexpected locations through “pop-up” shows. He’s in talks with L’Auberge Casino & Hotel for a possible event, and he has his sights set on a few unique locations around downtown.

Being curator at the Kress Gallery puts Turner in a position to share the knowledge and opportunities he’s been given with other local artists. “Our goal is to bring in international and national artists, but in between that I would like to give that artist who I think can be nurtured and brought up to the next level a chance,” he says.

Michael Secor, one of the featured artists at a show there last fall, sees the gallery providing a venue for someone whose work you might not otherwise see at such a prime location downtown. “He was open to having new, up-and coming artists, and to letting us put our art up how we wanted it,” Secor says.

Taufeeq Muhammad, another local artist shown at the gallery, expressed gratitude for Turner’s mentorship in developing his business and networking skills. “We have a lot of artisans here, and they just don’t know really how to deal with the business side. Kress Gallery is helping connect the artistic and business aspects,” he says. “I see the creative side of Baton Rouge growing. It’s just an honor to be a part of what’s coming.”

Abstract expressionism and pop art from Andrew Robertson and Jacob Zumo. The exhibit runs all this month through Aug. 12. kressgallerybr.com