Page 80 - Life in Naples November 2018

ASK THE

artsperts

www.harmonmeek.com

by Juliana Meek and Kristine Meek 599 NINTH STREET NORTH SUITE 309 | NAPLES, FL 34102 | 239.261.2637

Dear Artsperts:

I am sure your father has collected art for all the years he has
been a dealer. How did he get his start?
Signed,
Just Curious
Dear Curious,

Our dad, William Meek, started working for gallery founder “MONKS” BY LOUIS BOSA NOW HANGS IN OUR PARENT’S BEDROOM,
Foster Harmon in the fall of 1972. After graduating from college,
he first had to complete a summer long Army training course
as a young reserve officer before he could begin his position as ON OUR FATHER’S SIDE OF THE BED.
Assistant Director of Harmon Gallery. When he began his career
with the gallery, he was tasked with a six-year apprenticeship in
all aspects of operating an art gallery and a retail business (while
continuing his service in the Reserves for 8 years). His major in
economics and minor in art proved to be a better combination
that goes into running an art gallery doesn’t matter if you cannot
than the dean of his business school ever imagined.
sell art’. That weighed heavily on my daily routine since almost
Here is his story in his words on how he started his own private
everyone coming into the gallery would naturally want to talk to
collection:
the director-owner [Harmon].
“As Foster Harmon would always preach to me, ‘Everything
I wanted to understand what potential clients were facing
when deciding whether or not to purchase a particular work of
art. Collectors of art generally feel quite comfortable making
informed choices, while new collectors often need more attention,
particularly if the acquisition is using discretionary funds or if the
artwork is “filling a space” in the home or office.
I needed to know what they were experiencing so I decided to
buy one work of art every year. Since I wasn’t making a significant
income as Harmon’s apprentice working on commission, this
WOULD BECOME WILLIAM MEEK’S FIRST PURCHASE OF ARTWORK LOUIS BOSA IN HIS STUDIO CIRCA 1965. HE IS PHOTOGRAPHED PAINTING THE WORK THAT (1905-81) titled Monks on a Wall and informed Harmon of my
decision was indeed a sacrifice monetarily.
I centered in on an oil painting created in 1965 by Louis Bosa

decision. He allowed me to pay for it over nine months at $75 a
month (plus 4% sales tax). The $750 purchase less my commission
has never been second guessed and the painting now hangs next
to the bed my wife and I share. It is the last artwork I see before
falling asleep. The value has gone up to $3,500, a modest increase,
but this amount is not what makes the painting valuable to me.”

The Artsperts

80 Sincerely, Life in Naples | November 2018