As for galleries and openings, after many years of working with a few galleries as well as selling my work directly, I've also developed strong opinions regarding the art market. I'm frequently asked how I set a price for my painting. I also read another artist who wrote that you must set a price for art which the public will pay. If you overprice your work, you won't sell, and in his opinion, its better to sell 5 paintings at 100 dollars each, than sell one at 400 dollars. Makes sense to me.
Art markets are very fickle.
I have no argument with the price an artist realizes from selling his work or even what the work consists of, including cardboard boxes. That is, I have no argument as long as the transaction remains between the artist and the buyer. In that context, I believe anything is acceptable and is honest dealing. The avarice in me was attracted for a short while, till I learned how my work was being hyped to the collectors. There was a great amount of dishonesty in the presentation of myself personally and of the techniques and inspiration and honest value of my work.