Recently, I read a blog on AFI about the perils of:
1) Donating your works for charity.
2) Giving a piece of your work for raffle at the Art Fair you are attending.
3) Well, let's not enumerate on… the post was against GIVING AWAY your ART for any reason because it lowers its value.
Why? The jist of the post was that it’s BAD for BUSINESS!
Yes, I have the concept correct, unfortunately. Artists need to be savvy business women/men with cost sheets of realistic pricing, trend analyses, web maximization, facebook advertising, search engines that keep you in the forefront, gadgets that slip on your iPhone to scan credit cards... and on and on and on.
The theme of the post was ANATHEMA to me (nothing personal to whoever wrote it.) and I feel honor bound to represent artists to the best of my ability. While I’m polite to a fault, truthful about costs, and I’ll avoid conflict at all costs - I’ve never told anyone this before and am reluctant to now - that post forces me to take a very public stand:
Every show I find a way to give a piece of my work… to a charming child, a harassed mother, someone with a light pocketbook but the right eyes, a lovely aging beauty…
Isn’t the greatest gift an Artist can give ONE that is personal, rare and God-given: your own art? I think generosity is a civility I see and read about here on this blog daily.
So I am asking YOU.
I am the Director of Global Outreach for the Rainbird Foundation, a non-profit committed to the end of all forms of child abuse with no child left out. If you would like to participate in an act of generosity that would delight the recipient and contribute to the financial stability of this great organization, join me in contributing a piece of your art to them. I’ve never met a more deserving group of people, and their work will go far with our support!
IF THIS APPEALS TO YOU, FIND OUT MORE @: www.Rainbirdfoundation.org
OR CONTRIBUTE A PIECE OF YOUR WORK AND MAIL IT TO: RAINBIRD FOUNDATION, W311S7433 Arbor Drive, Mukwonago, WI 53149
Please, price your work. It will be sold in the Global web store.
Starting sometime early next year, I am looking to feature an artist a month in the store. If you are interested, write me at AFI.
With gratitude,
Linda
