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Finally got there. I was like getting to the grand buffet and finding only a few slivers of beat up melon.  

For example: 

Ann Arbor State Street.  

Tuesday night an artists' dinner is held, we had the "privilege" of sitting with the Mayor and the show organizer. Tom, the show organizer, boosted that his was the only show that would allow stores to have street booths and that Urban Outfitters would do more than $250,000 during the four days of the show. That is $1/4 million that wasn't spent on art. That was only one vendor.

Consideration should be given to renaming the event the Ann Arbor Flea and Art Market.

Today is Independence Day. On AFI we celebrate our individualitiy every waking moment. I have been with vocal groups before but YOU ALL define the concept of a "think tank."

So I wondered about all I have read over the past months. Could we get it down to:

ONE THING WE EACH WOULD CHANGE ABOUT THE ART WORLD OR BEING ARTISTS?

(no repeats, except to add an inportant concept to the original)

How high could we go? Each person number your change.

I'll start.

1) I love creating. But I hate having to make enough money to keep the accountant happy. If I could change ONE THING I would improve the economy faster.

The other day when I stopped to buy some E-6000, the woman in the checkout line ahead of me was buying an armful of jewelry magazines.

As we were crawling by inches forward, she turned to me, admired my necklace and asked, "Which magazine did you find that one in?"

I was surprised at the height, breathe and depth of my indignation. I have been thinking about this moment and I have an epiphany to share with you:

People who copy from books, magazines, websites or classes are not artists!

They are copy-cats.

I have never used a book, magazine or the web for my work. Every design comes from my imagination. I have taken certification classes in a process but never a class on how to make a pair of earrings. I have a book on how to use the various PMCs which I received in my cert class, my kiln operating book, a book on the properties of natural gemstones, one on pearls and a general How To Bible of tools and techniques.

Aren't there clear instructions at Art Fairs that nothing can be made from a kit?

Well, following the step-by-step instructions (with pictures) is just like using a kit. You just go to the local bead shop and they will read your instruction set and give you everything that would have been in that kit.

Today I was back at the store and thought I would look through the lot. I could not believe the silliness, the trashiness, the lack of balance or color, the ART-LESS-NESS of the patterns in these ad filled mags. This is a business: NOT one set to build the next Artist.

I am sure Michaelangelo wasn't pausing on the Sistine Chapel ceiling, waiting for his monthy magazine for inspiration.

I have a patent pending on an item I make. There is a sign above the display with the PP number on it.

It never fails a few times a year that after trying one on, a customer will say that she just wanted to see "how you make yours because I make the exact thing."

I ask her where she's from, does she have a website, what shows is she in? Subtle, huh?

I quietly ask her if she saw the sign over the display. Sometimes, the question is, "What does that mean?"

I explain that my lawyer exhaustively looked through all patents to see if one was filed about the making of this exact product. Anyone who breaks a patent will be subject to the strictures of patent law.

I did find a crafter trying to copy my design. A letter went out from my lawyer(which costs me!)

How do I know she ceased making them?

That's why they don't appear on my website.

Someone told me not to put my best jewelry designs out on the web either. Other artists stroll through and copy.

WELL, how am I suppose to sell off my website?

To what percent do I have to honestly worry about this unethical practice?

After several positive posts in a previous blog and after discussing this issue with Connie, we have the go ahead to form a committee for a FAQ tab on this site.

Here are Connie's exact words: "I would be very pleased to have you and some others put together an FAQ about the site. It would be a good community building activity. Do you think you can line up some others to help you with this? I would support this and help get it published and available, blog about it, etc. "

This is a great opportunity for YOU to have your opinion heard in the questions that will be included in the link.

It can help us organize the site neatly, stop repeat questions and draw the outside surfer to our ranks if he has some help getting oriented.
 

This will be a positive, proactive, non-partisan think tank  fueled by a great group of modern-day designers: US!

Please, email me at lshields@wi.rr.com to get started.

Thanks