Nikki Townsend is executive director of JaxTenacity, an artist advocacy agency, and the curator of the 9th & Main galleria. On Dec. 12, she will be showcasing Tunnel Vision, the grand opening of an art gallery in the tunnel connecting Atlantic Place to SunTrust Bank.
WHAT IS HER ROLE
WITH JAXTENACITY?
“I find an outlet for local artists. My goal is to get them to make a name for themselves. I prefer to work in town because my heart is in local art and local businesses but the bottom line is I want to get the artist known. I do send work to people in galleries out-of-town and elsewhere.”
HOW DOES HER
BUSINESS WORK?
“There are two ways. Artists will come to me wanting a show and I’ll find a place or create a project to give them an opportunity. Then there are places that want artists and I find artists for them. The other aspect is the way I make my money. I work as an agent for artists who don’t have time to set up their shows by setting up shows, submitting portfolios and selling their work. I get a commission. For major clients that want events, I charge a fee for my consulting services. But most of the artists I work with don’t pay me anything.”
HOW DOES SHE
STAY AFLOAT?
“You get back what you put in. I’m not getting rich, but I’m paying my bills. My business is still in the first year; this is something I’m looking at long-term. I’m waiting for it to come back around. I think the harder I work at it, the more comfortable I think I’ll be.”
DOES SHE HAVE A SPECIALTY?
”Experimental art is my niche. I work with a lot of outsider artists. More traditional artists with more commercial styles of work have a greater capability of making a career. I prefer to work with artists who have a different style, are new to Jacksonville or who don’t have an education in their background. I’m always open to meet with anybody who’s local. I don’t care if I hate your work. I’ll find somebody that likes that flavor.”
31 FLAVORS OF ART
“Everybody has a flavor and everybody’s flavor is liked by someone. What I do is take a flavor and find someone who prefers that taste. I try to match them up. There’s a palate here for all of the flavors but I do think, in some cases, there’s a larger palate for some of the flavors.”
ROOTS
Pennsylvania is her home state, but Townsend grew up in Jacksonville, graduating from Douglas Anderson School of the Arts in 1998. Last year, she moved to Minneapolis, only to return this spring.
WHY DID SHE RETURN?
“For love. My boyfriend missed Jacksonville and wanted to come back.”
WHY START THE BUSINESS?
“I would not be doing what I’m doing now if it were not for my ex-boyfriend. He’s a local artist and he got me into the visual arts. What keeps me doing what I’m doing is that I love Jacksonville. I see the potential in Jacksonville. Regardless of my background, I’m really passionate about what I do.”
WHAT IS HER BACKGROUND?
For nearly eight years, Townsend performed spoken word professionally. She has also worked in early childhood development and was once a City employee. Until recently, she directed the arts and events at 9th & Main.
LEARNING CURVE
In addition to operating JaxTenacity, Townsend juggles being a college student and a single mother to her young son, Nicholas. “Working to maintain a business and going to school full-time just doesn’t work. I’m successful at what I’m doing so I’m starting to question whether it’s necessary [to attend FCCJ].”
HOW DID SHE LEARN ABOUT ART?
“Life experience. I had a desire to learn about it, so I did. I would call art galleries, call the dealers and do market analysis. I would meet the artists. I never thought in the beginning that I would quit my day job to do this. I lucked out. I worked hard and it meant something to me and that is what has made it successful.”
WHAT IS HER BIGGEST CHALLENGE?
“The stigma that goes with being uneducated or inexperienced, knowing I can do this better than a person who has that degree. On a personal level, artists calling me a sell-out is very difficult for me.”
HOBBIES
Townsend, a Springfield resident, enjoys painting, writing, dancing and reading, especially short stories and classics. “I like to paint in my spare time, but I wouldn’t call myself an artist.”
WHAT IS HER TAKE ON
THE ART SCENE?
“I can’t express how much amazing talent there is here. Everybody’s leaving and it doesn’t have to be. There are more artists in their back bedroom painting and I want them to understand that there are opportunities, venues and buyers out there. There are artists that don’t know how to set up a portfolio, don’t know how to set up a show, don’t know how to submit slides or contact the media. I can do that.”
— by Monica Tsai