Hey my fellow art friends.
Wow are the times wild. My closest friends that do art fairs (for fun of course, never would anyone right in their mind consider art fairs as a living) report the market is in absolute decline in all ways possible. From artist being predatorial in their approach. Going into other booths to lure potential customers into theirs. And I say customers because most of the so-called artists at art fairs do not make art. They make product, like any retail store, assuring they charge tax like a good citizen of commerce. If art truly had a voice, would it demand it not be taxed. I hear the quality of work has dropped tremendously. I hear organizers are to most to be accountable for such aesthetic decline. Simply letting anyone into the art fair that can pay a booth fee. Car batteries are seen as tent weights, as well water jugs. Most booths have a merch section. Art fairs that demand original only, knowingly let prints and reproductions be present. How tacky.
I’m a social critic so I give myself permission to be judgmental of what all you have created. Yet, I see barely any of you talking about the degeneracy in the arts or having solutions. But of course, who needs more middle management, another non-profit with very little funds and attention going towards betterment of arts to be accessible to public. The abuse is tremendous.
Many of you aged baby booming mindset simply rely on “sayings” to save you. Like. “the market will turn around”, or “talking about negative things just bring bad energy”. Completely in denial of the consequences. Jus a big ol happy go lucky crowd.
And lets get super honest, most of you so called artist out in that public sector to seek validation. Being it the parental trauma that said you could never do art. The abusive spouse that reminded you how intolerable your work is. Or raising children got in the way. Organizers smell your desperation. So does public. So let go, and start doing art for fun again, which means not selling it.
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