Thursday, I hung up my abstract art exhibit at Alexandrian Public Library. It’s been a while since I’ve exhibited there. They have such a nice exhibit hall and I’m glad to have the last week of September and the entire month of October to exhibit my work.
I’m not sure how it is for many other artists, but my local art friends have noticed a decline in art sales this year. Probably the economy, inflation and it being an election year. Not to mention housing prices are downright shocking. *sigh*
Garden Birds
In contrast, I do see an unreasonable amount of restaurants still going up or new banks being built. Hmmm… I listened to a podcast yesterday that talked about the artist and how we fit into the economic society. How not long ago, cities were trying to attract artists to their towns because it’s known that with arts in the community, that draws more people that want to live there – art-driven urban revitalization.
Priced out of town?
What’s ironic is what usually happens after the artists show up and make the place desirable. The rent starts out low for studio space to draw the artists in. But then, people start moving to the town because of the lively art scene and then housing prices go up. Effectively pricing the artists (and the original occupants) out of the very community they helped beautify and re-build. Essentially gentrification.
Fiddlesticks and Let’s Do Lunch
Now it seems that the days of attracting artists have ended and the cities, instead of looking to draw artists, they are now attracting restaurants, high end condo developers, etc.. The podcast guest was a writer, William Deresiewicz, author of The Death of the Artist: How Creators are Struggling to Survive in the Age of Billionaires and Big Tech. In the episode, he made a good point that after a good meal with fine wine, it was actually gone the next day. Whereas art on the other hand can be passed down for generations. Nothing that us artists haven’t always known of course, but it’s nice to hear someone else say it.
Woodland Soul and Whirlwind.
If you’re interested in the podcast, here’s the link. It was Alyson Stanfield’s “The Art Biz” episode 205 – The Internet Might Be Ruining Artists’ Livelihoods with William Deresiewicz.
Forever and A light in the Darkness.
I listen to several different podcasts having to do with art, the art business and a variety of other subjects. Living in the country, quite a ways from the places I need to go, gives me plenty of time to listen.
What do you mean? and Dahlia Fireworks
If you’re local to me, I’d love to hear if you had a chance to stop and see my abstract art exhibit.
← Spring Scene Painting Class / ⟶
some of my paintings
Learn more about me on the ‘About’ page under the additional links menu. I’m an artist – a painter mostly and an avid gardener. I paint a variety of subjects including birds, koi fish, my gardens, ponds and flowers as well as anything having to do with nature especially trees and tropical scenes. I also enjoy painting abstracts and have started created more and more of them. My most favorite thing to try to achieve in my painting is is mystery and telling mystical stories.
If you would like to keep up with what I’m doing, I have a newsletter e-mailed about once a month that gives you special status for invitations, birthday greeting and more. I’d love for you to add your email to my Friends and Collectors list!
Wow!!! That looks great. You’re right too! Prices seem to be going up for everything. I truly wish that I could come in person but I love looking at art so thanks for sharing yours!
Hi Angela! It’s so great to hear from you, thanks so much for commenting. I’m so happy you enjoyed seeing my exhibit.
I took a look at your blog and I wanted to share with everyone that you have one so they’ll check you out. It seems artist blogs are hard to come by these days.
It looks as though you were affected by the Hurricane Helene some, so I’m glad you’re safe now and I hope there wasn’t too much damage. Hopefully Hurricane Milton isn’t affecting you either. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you return!
I hope that art exhibit goes well. It looks like an amazing place, where your colors just pop. I never thought of the connection between art and economy but it makes perfect sense. I think of art festivals and how some years you sell everything and other years nothing. I’ll need to pay attention to what is going on in the wider spaces to see the connection. Sometimes it’s obvious, but some times not, so this has given me some food for thought. And as always – love your hair!
Ah thanks so much Lisa! My hair. Jeesh what a roller coaster of emotions this has been. Happy with it one day and feeling like a swamp witch the next. I’m glad I’ve not caved in and recolored it though.
There’s been studies done on art sales during election years, of course probably more for like Blue Chip art sales, but I find it does trickle down in a meaningful way to me. For good or for bad. Every four years like clockwork, the art sales scene cool off during a Presidential Election year. I can see it in my sales as well, woefully so this year. I think the added inflation on top of the election has just added to the turmoil.
I wonder if this translates to book sales? Maybe not so much since one can purchase a book and not break the bank and then be transported to another world escaping this election and inflation fiasco. Of course, I feel a well placed painting in a home or office can do the same transporting but it’s not usually in the same price realm as a good book.
Let’s hope sales for both book sales and paintings increase exponentially soon!