The gallery’s prime location is here on Clematis street with
two large exhibition rooms plus they have an offsite storage
warehouse. Habatat Galleries does a lot of sales online and
over the phone through our website and social media. They sell
to everyone from the Ritz Carlton Hotels to millennials walking
in off the street, so business has been very good. About 85% of
their clients are private collectors. “I am continually doing email
blasts to let them know what new work we have coming in. I
had a recent client who had not bought anything in years come
in and spend over $100,000, so you never know”, says Lindsey.
Habatat Galleries seasonal show in October will be a Functional Show – glass work in goblets, plates and other useful
objects.
Since being on the main entertainment block for several years
now, Scott has some strong feelings about how the downtown
West Palm Beach arts district could be improved.
“I have out-of-town visitors come in and say ‘Where exactly is
the arts district? All we see there are lots of bars and restaurants
and maybe one gallery per block!’ They’re right, there really is
no central place that can be called the heart of the arts district.
The Kravis is way off by the highway entrance, CityPlace has no
galleries. They put some swing art in an empty lot and that was
fine for a few weeks but then, there was no follow up. An oversize plastic bunny had his ears stolen within days. Now there
is nothing there except the mural. It shouldn’t have been that
difficult to find public art to put there on a regular basis.”
But her suggestions are bigger than a lot with a plastic rabbit.
“What we really need is a flagship building with artist studios,
classes and exhibition space like they have in Miami with the
South Florida Art Center on Lincoln Road, ”she explains. “We
have the Armory here but again it’s way off the walking path so
strolling tourists would never know it’s there. I’ve seen the city
give artists some grant money and maybe they open a studio
or gallery; but then close up once the money is gone. There is
no ongoing support. I’d like to see a developer or group get an
arts building going in a central downtown location and keep it
going. There’s a lot of empty buildings here now that would be
great for this.”
When asked if she could be the one to get this going, Scott
sighs and says “Well I have two kids, this gallery and a real
estate business to run so I just have no time. But this city is
really crying for something to be done.”
It’s a worthy idea from a solid gallery owner who has been a
major player in the art scene that does exist.
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