Over the course of his 54 years of life, Gus Gustafson built his network...without really trying. When he died, in January of 2003, more than 1000 people attended a two-hour service that celebrated his life. A few weeks ago...almost 3 years after his death...more than 250 friends, family, and fellow artists, gathered together to remember his rich, generous spirit.
That's a network...and here is his story.
In the mid-1970s, the Warehouse District of Minneapolis was not an appealing place for the "beautiful people" and the property developers (unlike today). It was a slightly seedy section off the main downtown drag...and a hub for artists' studios, galleries and bohemian hangouts. Moreover...large, vacant buildings offered refuge for hundreds of artists to set up their homes and studios.
Gus Gustafson had recently graduated from the University of Minnesota where he studied painting and photography. Within the Twin Cities artists' communities, Gus was a ubiquitous attendee at every art opening and gallery show. Gus loved all mediums of art, dabbled in several, but quickly surfaced as a photographer with great sensitivity and mechanical command. His reputation as an artist of consummate skill soon reached the Twin Cities' thriving advertising community. By the mid-1980s, Gus was in high demand, with an ever-growing client base.
However, it was within the burgeoning Twin Cities arts community, that Gus displayed his singular talent at networking. His big-hearted, gregarious spirit embraced everyone he met...artists, architects, politicians, restaurateurs, business executives, and panhandlers. His standard greeting to many a woman was a heartfelt, "Hello darling, you're looking beautiful." He was known to carry a pocket full of quarters so he could stuff empty parking meters as he strolled down the street. At the end of the day, he held court and traded stories with the regulars at the New French Bar...Gus' favorite hangout and a popular watering hole for like-minded, thirsty, creative-types.
During these "after-hours sessions", Gus became known as the photographer-of-choice for the dozens of artists who needed slides and transparencies of their art...for grants, professional opportunities, etc. Gus made time for every artist who sought his services, and became an invaluable resource to many an artist in need of quality images for their creative efforts.
Gus was good at photographing artwork, liked working with artists, and was open to the barter system. As word spread, he found himself inundated with requests to shoot artists' work...in trade for one of their pieces. Over the years, he amassed one of the largest and most comprehensive private collection of contemporary Minnesota art to be found anywhere.
For more than 25 years, Gus exemplified the single most important characteristic of effective "networkers"...a generous, giving spirit without the "hands held out" expectation of receiving anything in return. He brought people together...to share ideas, friendships, opinions, and art. His life-long friendships created a vibrant, community nexus that resonates beyond his time on this earth.
We should all be so lucky.
(For those of you interested in learning more about Gus, "Remembering Gus Gustafson: Artist, Collector, Friend" is an exhibition that will continue at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts through March 19, 2006.)
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