If you buy art, you do so for a number of reasons. Regardless of the reason, you want to see the artist become successful, right?
If the artist becomes successful, it vindicates your purchase. The work that you own becomes more valuable, and you can honestly take pride in identifying a rising star before everyone else does.
More than anything, though, you want to see the artist become successful because you are part of their journey. When you support an artist, you become part of that artist’s story. You help the artist reach a point where they contribute greatly to the world, and that is no small thing.
Artists, be grateful to those who share and support your journey.
I look at the issue of artists making a career from their talent from two different perspectives.
There are concepts that society promulgates about artists that need to be changed. But artists also need to take responsibility and not assume that life should be handed to them on a silver platter.
I have started a writing journey to more openly share my own struggle with making a career as an artist that is financially sustainable. I hope that it is interesting to those who would purchase my art, even though the journey will inevitably lead to higher prices.
I hope it is interesting to others as well. Even if you do not purchase my art, you are supporting my journey. Thanks!
Where do you think this journey will lead me next?
When I moved to the Canton Arts District in 2007, it was an adventure. A formerly blighted downtown was being redeveloped into a creative paradise for artists. There was an energy that was exciting and inspiring.
For five years, I have been a big part of shaping and developing the district. I have lived here, worked here and helped to create and promote a variety of activities. Other artists and I, with the help of ArtsinStark, the Canton Special Improvement District and King Properties, can take pride in what we have built.
There is a wave of interest in developing declining downtowns across the country through the arts. Canton, honestly was on the forefront of that. It is not by accident.
Robb Hankins, the charismatic and inspiring leader of ArtsinStark, has led the city to redevelop and reshape itself through public art, live music and theater, and artists’ galleries and studios.
Rocco Landesman, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, has made such efforts a cornerstone of his agency’s purposes. Consultants like Rebecca Ryan actively encourage cities to capitalize on the arts as a way to bring young professionals to their cities.
Artists can benefit greatly from such an influx of interest in the arts. I have. But artist beware. It is not the end-all-be-all for launching an art career.
In Canton, we have had numerous challenges. Egos and lack of business acumen have impeded the progress of many creative people with high and sometimes unrealistic expectations. Canton is a football town, and although its people have embraced the new arts focus, it is not a community where enough people buy art to support a number of self employed artists.
And although the business community has embraced the arts in a very surprising way, the mayor and other elected officials have not. In a future post, I will share about how decisions made by city officials have totally altered my experience of the city.
The present day movement of building cities around the arts harkens back to the New York City SoHo District’s regeneration as an artists’ haven. Once a low cost area for creative people to live and work, it now is an upscale area where only the most successful artists can afford to live.
Most cities are hoping that the world that the artists create in their communities are not necessarily going to remain a place where starving artists can survive.
Cities are fluid organisms that change and adapt to the circumstances around them. Artists have to adapt as well, and recognize that change is inevitable.
How have the arts changed and contributed to the development of your city? How have artists had to adapt to the changing circumstances around that development? Are the arts an important and embraced part of your community?
Are you an arts supporter who wants to see artists and their cities succeed? What suggestions do you have for them?
Do you have regrets? Do you wish that you had done this or that instead of what you actually did do? Do you kick yourself for missing opportunities or for doing things that you wish you had not done?
Being circumspect about prior choices can be productive, but spending too much energy on regret is not.
It is wise to learn from the consequences of earlier choices. It is not wise to engage in self flagellation over poor choices made in the past.
Are you kicking yourself up a notch to be better at what you do? Or are you inflicting unnecessary pain on yourself for things that are done and cannot be changed?
