The other day a woman I know came over to my studio. I was sitting around my work table with a few friends. One of them was also an artist.
We were talking about this woman's ideas of opening a restaurant. She has specific health needs and believes others may have the same need to dine out and have it their way so to speak. A grand idea, I thought it sounded very interesting.
But then she adds, I am going to get the "artists" to hang art and perhaps rent to show there. Alarm bells when off in my head. I enquired if she had asked any artist about her idea. She flatly said no as if this was of no consequence to her plan. I am aware that this person knows other artists so I am having a problem figuring out why she can't understand she is being usury and adding to the problem. Even after I attempt to explain this.
Let’s look at this deal, the artist who is already one of the most extremely marginalize workers in the humanities vs. the restaurant owner.
The restaurant owner gets free ever changing art on the wall. They also get the prestige that goes along with showing original works which in turn helps to build the business. They are free from the burden of having to find a decorator or art and pay for it for the restaurant. And even make extra income from the rental of the wall space.
The artist gets to take time to hang work; self promote the work, and are even lucky enough to pay for the chance to show the work. There is no clientele set up to purchase the work in a new establishment. And in 20 years of experience in all kinds of exhibiting, I know the exposure in a restaurant is mostly useless and sales are negligible if existing at all. The work often comming back damaged in some way. The patron tends to think of it as décor. And it certainly isn't an exhibit to pad your resume either.
This looks like a great deal for the entrepreneur, but the shits for any artist trying to pay the rent and feed their family. What a lack of regard for an already beleaguered group of workers.
Funny or sad, you decide?
Advice to entrepreneurs:
1. Put your money where your art loving heart is and buy original works for your establishment it will be an amazing help in legitimizing your business to the public, as well as assist artists in their sustainability in the community.
Advice to artists:
1. Stay away from good Samaritans or you will carry them on your back for your whole journey.
2. Bite the hand that promises to feed you but doesn’t.
1 comment:
As an add-on, I was framing art with five other longstanding exhibiting artists. We were discussing restaurateurs and it was unanimous that cafes, pubs, and restaurants are absolutely useless. They lead to no connections or exposure. (the word we hear all the time). Funny eh?
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