I've only had one real experience with Gallery Guichard, but it was quite unforgettable, so I'll share it with readers and potential patrons here in the hope that they'll be able to make a fully informed decision (Note:This interaction took place when the Gallery was situated at its former location on S. Michigan Ave. in Bronzeville, in late 2012).
One business day, while scanning my e-mails, I received an electronic invitation from a very dear and close friend to come to a Haitian art exhibit opening, being held at the gallery. Having never been there, but heard good things about it and knowing that my friend for as long as I have known her has only been associated with quality, I accepted the invitation. I promptly confirmed my attendance and made my way there on the appointed evening.
It was truly a wonderful time. Good people, fine wine, great art in an even greater space. I loved how well the event was put together, the caliber of people it attracted and, of course, the culture. So determined was I to remain on their mailing list that I stayed behind afterward and helped them to clean up.
About a month later, I received another invite to the next showing. This time it was South African art. I RSVP'd again to attend, and even assisted by re-distributing their e-vite to my own recommended list of potential attendees, and select media--at their request--and I did this free of charge. It was another elegant event, and this time around I even found a specific piece that I wanted to buy. I paid over $600 for a ceramic vase, and the owner's wife, who facilitated the transaction, asked me to just let them keep the vase at the gallery for a further three days until the exhibit had concluded, stating that they would get it to me afterward.
I agreed, the owner gave me his mobile phone number to follow-up if need be, and I pitched in once more to help them clean up the venue as the evening concluded. The three days went by, and no word from the gallery. A week went by, and still no word of any kind. The three days they asked for turned into three weeks. I phoned and left messages at the gallery to no reply. Finally, I phoned the owner on his cellphone and he answered. I inquired about the status of my vase, and he said "I'm sorry, but I'm traveling in Atlanta right now and I don't recognize your name."
When I finally received my ceramic vase the following week, it was cavalierly dropped off at my hi-rise building security desk in a box, with no padding, no packing paper or bubble wrap at all. It was just left there by someone who quickly departed before I got downstairs, and rolled around in the box which was appreciably too large for the item. Inside was also a "Certificate of Authenticity" verifying that I'd paid all of that money for an "original painting" which, of course, a vase is not. As I stated earlier, unforgettable. read more