Alyson Stanfield had her usual interesting question on a recent Deep Thought Thursday, this one about fakes and originals and their value. The responses turned to art and greed, which caused me to skip the question and ask whether selling art is greed or capitalism. It makes me crazy that selling art is seen as selling out by many. Art is my business. If I do not sell, I do not pay my bills.
Somehow – possibly by the many MFAs and the requirement therefrom to speak in a rarified jargon – art has been set on a pedestal and removed from everyday life. Ok – we are allowed artisans, i.e., crafts people, and that is a whole 'nother argument (what is the difference between craft and art – is there one?).
Anyways, Alyson lifted my comment and created a whole new Deep thought Thursday. Many of the responses are from working artists who see selling art the way I do – the end result of good creation and good business sense.
I wasn't going to respond mainly because it was my question that sparked everything, but in the end, I had to:
" I wasn't going to say anything since it way my comment that started all this; however, this morning I was reading ltrs to the editor in the Washington Post and one was objecting to fundng "the arts." David Wonderling says: "People are taking pay cuts, being laid off and losing homes…Fund the arts and pet projects when the nation is once again flush with cash." Those here who are working artists understand that selling art is part of the business of being a working artist. Those of us who are, indeed, working artists, need to take back the art world from those who review in coded language and display work that makes you go "Huh?" Art is not rarified. It is not special. It is focus and passion just like any work that makes sense. It is no less deserving than farm aid which feeds the body, for art feeds the spirit. The sooner we take back the definition of "art," the sooner art in schools will be seen as the necessity that it is, and the sooner funding artists who work at their business will not seem untoward."
Click on over and read the responses (and subscribe to Alyson's Site feed so you can get these discussions delivered directly to your inbox). What do you think?
As for me, I'm going to excerpt this and send it off in my own letter to the editor in the Washington Post.
2 Comments
Most people will never see aiding art as necessary. However, most people take in all sorts of art all day long and don't even realize it. If these things were gone, they really would miss it. There used to be a great commercial on tv about supporting the arts. It was a family wearing dull colors and sitting around the table and their conversation was very boring and bland. The kids had no art classes. No music. There was nothing exciting or colorful to talk about for them. I thought it made a decent point.
I'm sure there are many artists who would create and give their art away, if they could afford to do so. I have a sneaking suspicion that folks who take the opinion that selling your art is selling out or greedy probably has never had to survive as an artist solely on their own art income. It's always nice to talk from the perspective of a person who has no money woes, but you won't get many points from me! And what of artists with children who must feed them? Should they hold onto their precious principles about not selling art or feed their crying baby? Give me a break! Why is everybody else entitled to sell whatever they put their sweat into, but an artist who sells their work is greedy? Makes no sense – especially when for YEARS your profit margin might be little.
I only see somebody as "selling out" when – take music for instance – an artist signs with a big company and gets big bux, but stops being themselves – they aren't creating anymore, they are just singing or playing what they are told to by the execs who spit out cookie cutter music. That SUCKS!
I hope you wont mind me putting across another point of view….
I purchase pieces that appeal to me in the hope that the money received will help the artist to purchase more materials, and have a studio in which to be able to create more art for everyone to enjoy.
All art funding therefore just seems to me like what I do, but on a grander scale.
I feel it is just as necessary to feed your spirit and soul as it is to feed your body.
Thank you for reading x