THE BUSINESS OF ART

[ The topic today is a great kick-off post and resource for future discussion! ]

A recent New York Times article, titled Lost in the Gallery-Industrial Complex, brings up the power of money in the art industry and the small pocket of artists that benefit from the current art circulation system. Author Holland Cotter brings up many points in his analysis, but I will focus on the three that stuck most with me:

1. Art Education: The "struggling artist" is a character we all know, or maybe we are one. The range of art education has erupted in the past fifty years, along with tuition rates. Limited funding and highly competitive scholarships leave many students indebted to their institutions. Then, upon matriculation, students are faced with a money-minded industry and very few (if any) job opportunities. 

So, is the business behind art preventing many new talents from being recognized? I think there is some truth in such an assumption. Luckily, more students also learning the value in branding and utilizing available technologies in today's world.

2. Community: This past summer I took design classes in Manhattan and got a taste of New York's "artsy" neighborhoods. Brooklyn's Dumbo, Bushwick, Williamsburg, and many others were once littered with abandoned warehouses with inexpensive rent in which artists took refuge. Over time, the influx of artists increased the development and attraction of the areas and therefore created an economic shift. The resulting spike in the cost of living is too high for most artists- for the people who helped in stimulating the neighborhood- who are now being driven out. I find this both interesting and disconcerting because it happened in a very short time period (most artist influx during the 1990s.) Examples like this are great for the local economy, but I feel that both support and assets should cycle back to the artists.

3. Voice: With advancements in technology and connectivity, it is easier for artists to find, create, and share art communities. I think this is a good point to close on, because this is my sort of call-for-action to artists and viewers everywhere. Please: Research lesser-known artists. Support your local art community however that may be. And, lastly, take the time to create pieces for the purpose of enjoyment and not for profit.

What are your thoughts on these topics or others mentioned in the article?

Nick Kuszyk's Williamsburg mural; Photo by: Alissa Petersen