My eye was drawn to an article in The Stranger entitled "The Vancouver Problem: Why is the Art Up There So Much Better Than the Art Up Here?"
Of course, my first thought was How Dare You Jen Graves - you're supposed to be on our side! But then I read the article, which proved a true point about the Seattle art scene. And to build further on her criticism, we can look at other cities besides Vancouver.
For a city that appears art friendly (most neighborhoods hold monthly art walks, and many cafes have local art on their walls), the City itself could go far in terms of improving an artists' chances here.
I just came across an online article about cheap dating tips, and it suggested Art Walk; the event itself is free and there was no risk of spending money because "no one buys that crap anyway". Ouch.
How do we encourage legitimate customers to attend, who are not just there for the free wine? And if the art really is that bad, how can we encourage a culture that appreciates good art, and encourage its artists to develop themselves?
In a city with several art schools, how are we not a culture that supports the arts, holds the artist to a higher standard, and also has a consumer base that appreciates it?
One place to start: In New York City, where the cost of living is very high, and the paychecks are not comparable, and therefore people have smaller homes with less room for art, how is art still prevalent and successful? The local rules of play art that setting up a booth on the street is FREE and requires no vendor license. Catch this: selling your art is considered freedom of speech. You still need your business license and need to claim income, etc. But the actual act of going public becomes very accessible. And with all these artists right there in your face, the general public now sees art on a regular basis, and comes to appreciate it.
Conversely, in Seattle, where there are sprawling suburban homes with plenty of wall space, where are the consumers? You must jump through hoops to vend on the street, and likely will have to pay 10% of sales to the neighborhood or community association. You can buy an $80 framed poster print at Beb Bath & Beyond, or you could spend the same $80 on an original by a local artist, but how will you do that if you don't know the artist exists? In a city where we pride ourselves on buying local food, because it's more green, should we not also pride ourselves on our local culture?
Do I have any solutions for change? Not yet. But it is certainly time to start the dialogue.
I just found out that one of my dear friends, David Lindes, will be moving his photography business in to the OK Hotel!
