An artist's take on the coming "economic downturn"

[TalkingDog]

Sent to me via email:

Subject: Hey, all you artsy types.

This article will make absolutely no sense to you:
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/business/AP-Bond-Insurers.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

It essentially means when you don't have a job and can't afford rent; this will (unless gas prices are too high):
http://www.wisebread.com/cooking-great-meals-with-your-car-engine-the-heat-is-on

Remember: Doing more with less is OUR specialty. Here's what I want you to do: I want you to get out there, take all those Ramen-eating, wearing-the-same-clothes-for-a week-so-you-don't-have-to-spend-money-on-laundry-and-sleeping-in-them-too-cause-there's-no-money-for-heat, Wednesday-is-lunch-for-2.25-at-the-SafeWay, not-answering-the-phone-cause-you-know-it's-creditors, mad skillz and step up to serve your country. Now it's OUR time!!!!

Let's get out there and show America how it's done!!!! Yay! ARTISTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



My Favorite Master Artist: Karen Parker GhostWoman Studios

[JeffR]

1. We who are about to diet salute you!

:patriot:

[smalll]

2. Good. Maybe, with less money around, the "aritists" will have to move beyond

vivsecting sharks, making elephant dung their key mode of expression, and/or cutting themselves as performance pieces to get to the big bucks. They've been a little spoiled in recent years.

[Andrea]

4. spoiled?

You must know different artists than the ones I hang with.

[Desertrose]

5. Seriously? As I working artist I struggle to make ends meet

every damn month, week and day.

I would love to sell some paintings for big bucks....and quite frankly, being a little spoiled would be a nice change.


Who the hell are you talking about??

[smalll]

7. I'm sorry - you're clearly "old school" --

just from the fact you actually do paintings. From everything I read, I gather that every newly-minted artist these days has to get an MFA first, in which they teach them the latest in postmodernist/conceptualist art-hype, rather than anything about the craft itself. (And come on, you must have at least known that the shark comment was a Damien Hirst reference.)

[TalkingDog]

10. You're about 20 years behind.

The Avant-Garde has moved in the other direction, back toward Classical Realism and formalist concerns. (jokingly calling itself the Derierre Garde)

10 years ago you couldn't find an atlier in the US. Now they are thick as thieves.

It'll take Art Schools and Critics time to catch up. And once they do, it'll move back toward the romantics and their explorations. It's a cycle.


My Favorite Master Artist: Karen Parker GhostWoman Studios

[smalll]

11. Actually, that's really cool -- I'd had some inkling of that, but couldn't quite believe it -

I guess I'm still shell-shocked by that piece in the New York Times Magazine from the late Nineties! (Or early 2000s, can't quite place it exactly. But it was scary, let me tell you.)

[TalkingDog]

8. Blame it on the British. That Turner Prize......

Well, and the NEA.

Not a big fan of either org. Although I think Serrano's "Piss Christ" was unfairly targeted. I actually "got" the intention there.

I don't think you know many artists, if you think, as a rule, they get "big bucks" for much of anything. Gallerys take 50%- non-negotiable. If they've got a rep. (which is like...what, a couple of thousand artists out of literally millions?) that's another 10 to 15% off that.

Out of the few hundred I know, the ones that make money do it by teaching at Universities. The ones who work full time as artists limp by. With a very few making over 30K after taxes (which they have to pay themselves).

Artists are the last of the true speculators in the great American tradition. They spend a butt-load of money up front for materials, supplies, working space and all without knowing whether the product they make will sell. It can be immensely good work, but it may not be what people are buying.

They have to make the work, package the work, contact the galleries, ship the work, etc. It's a lot of effort and time. They are literally some of the hardest working people I know.

Yes, the "critics" tend to like the shocking and different. If artists picked other artists to get money, fame and recognition, the artworld would look very, very different. But critics rule the roost. You can't blame the artists for that.



My Favorite Master Artist: Karen Parker GhostWoman Studios

[smalll]

9. Fair point about the critics.

And thanks for your knowledge about the field! :hi:

[HCE SuiGeneris]

3. Bookmarked

and recommended. I'm all about mad skillz, cheap thrills, and no frills!

[Andrea]

6. Hey thanks!

I never heard of that wise Bread site before seeing your link here. It is really great - loads of good info. I added it to my Favorites and I'm going to check it out in detail tomorrow.