A few weeks ago I read an article in the NY Times art section about the way artists – working in both visual and non-visual media – were reacting to the recession, how it was affecting them, how they felt about it, what they were planning to do, etc. I was interested but it didn’t make a huge impression on me – until I was redirected to it recently by a friend, and discovered that literally hundreds of artists had replied to this article with their comments. Their thoughts make fascinating reading, rather like a group effort journal entry that pinpoints and describes a moment in our time, as felt by artists.
Naturally, there are a number of entries talking about the added difficulties they face as a result of the recession. In particular, artists who were not yet established when it hit have found notable difficulty in breaking into what has become a very conservative market. Many galleries or institutions which occasionally used to take a bit of a gamble on work they liked are simply not willing to back anything but a sure-fire sale at the moment – and sometimes, not even that. Not-for-profits that support the arts are having to manage with dwindling resources as grant money becomes increasingly restricted and face the awareness that the situation might not improve any time soon.
Yet despite this hard-headed awareness of the difficulties of the current financial climate, the overall sense of the comments sent in were, amazingly and inspirationally, overwhelmingly positive.
There were a number of artists who pointed out that they hadn’t entered the art world in order to make money. They had always expected to have to do without some of the luxuries that friends in the corporate world took for granted – and, if anything, it now seems to be a more level playing field! They create for the pure joy of creating, for giving direction to their artistic urges and ideas – and that is something that hasn’t changed.
If anything, many said, the joy of it all has increased. The new demands of the recession have once again made it clear that art painted for a market is not for them, that they paint for themselves and for their art, not for buyers. And the fact that everyone knows that things are tough means that artists are helping each other out more, taking time with and for one another in a way that was unusual beforehand.
Artists are also more aware of the value of publicity than before. Some rely on representational galleries (like Agora Gallery) to promote their work for them in a professional manner, others take the more relaxed, personal approach, developing their local image by advertising, local sales, and participating in community projects.
Some artists actually said that the situation, although sometimes worrying, has been a source of inspiration for them. For one thing, they are more determined to create. For another, they have found new subject matter, new ideas in the changes around them, things they want to express in their art. Many have also seen this as a good time to reinvent themselves. They find a sense of liberation in the current situation, something that is productive in terms of their artistic endeavours.
How do you feel about this? Are you affected by the recession? I’d love to hear your experiences and stories here, so do leave something in the comments section.
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If art is your passion, you will do it, recession or no recession. And just do it even more perhaps because of the recession. Art is a way to bring beauty and joy to a world that is currently in a state of recession. Just returned from a painting trip in Rouen, Etretat, Honfleur and Trouville and painted non-stop. See paintings posted on susanmarxartist.com.
YES…I agree with Susan Marx’s comment. When one considers art movements through history; the place where art history blends with political history, artists have always been the mirrors and ‘Cassandra’s’ of social movement and class struggle.
And as long as art acknowledgement is driven by a ‘sales economy’ artists will have to make very hard choices in standard of living in specific times of world history. We must push for more museums and places to exhibit, NOT dependent on sales, but dedicated to instruction and viewing.
Realizing both the weight and need to listen to one’s Purpose is a self acualizing process that brings it’s own form of quiet joy. I’m off to the Florence Biennale this December, which has captured a great deal of my personal finances. As I rather ‘hurl myself off the cliff’ to do this journey, I also am deeply grateful to be able to fly. Humbly submitted Sunday morning from nw USA.
I never painted for the market but just went for my ideas and expressions and therefore I cannot share the above mentioned feelings but I do understand them very well. On the other hand I do paint for people and not only for myself- it is like playing piano for yourself or for others- there is a difference here- I am a social person and whatever I create I like it to go into conversation with others beside that when you do painitings and you do not have the possibility to expose them somewhere it is sad somehow that they are seen just by yourself- like when you are beautiful and nobody can enjoy your beauty because you are sitting in a dark closed room
and from a practical way of thinking you have to store them….you can repaint them as well if you do normal oil paintings ….but maybe that is not what you want to do.
tks for the effort you put in here I appreciate it!