Comments on: Deep Thought Thursday: Art & consumerism

By: Huguette D. May

Huguette D. May — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 16:35:47 +0000

My favorite insightful comment is the one by Tina Mamoser – although many excellent points have been made. What makes me happiest is the thoughtful buyer looking to help support a living artist whose work they love enough to live with. On Jenny Holzer: to me when art presents as words alone – no matter how cleverly – it’s morphed into something else: philosophy.

By: Alyson Stanfield

Alyson Stanfield — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 23:15:31 +0000

Melanie: You’re thinking of Jenny Holzer.
http://jennyholzer.com/

By: Melanie

Melanie — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 22:21:34 +0000

I cant fo the life of me remember the name of the female artist who used her art works to comment on consumerism. She created a shopping bag for women, her artworks used quotes and words, she displayed a message on the billboard in times square and also on the score board at half time in a basket ball game (something about women can play sports too?)

When I was at school we touched on her work but I would love to study her in depth now.

Can anybody tell me her name??

By: Marie Kazalia

Marie Kazalia — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:20:17 +0000

Such excellent comments here. Yes, I have encountered those beings who say *I don’t want to put one more product into the world* as their reason to reject what they choose to reject. I think it is a growing fad and fashionable along the radical lines of those who torch SUVs etc. (I don’t own a SUV, BTW). Sometimes they are against art too, and I don’t say anything to them at all. The peaceful extreme of that are the DIYers. I’ve been in shops ( in San Francisco) that stocked mostly handmade items–handmade clothes, books, wallets made out of duct tape(!) for vegetarians–rather than the mass-produced, animal based products. There is so much consumer junk out there on every level of society, even amid art suppliers. I have to sort through a lot of junk to find quality art supplies. Paints are full of fillers, and so I make my own.
So I am sympathetic to anti-commerists– real art is handmade so fits that ethic…

By: Jo Bradney

Jo Bradney — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 03:31:28 +0000

I just looked up “consume” – to absorb, eat up, destroy, spend wastefully.
I think that if you’re one of those people vacuuming up cutting edge art and warehousing the work for future resale maybe that would be “consuming” art.
(BTW if you are one of those people, please feel free to visit my site)

But I have to really want to live with a painting or sculpture before I will part with the cash. And if I really want to spend the rest of my life with a painting I will buy it. I am still haunted by the pieces that got away because I hesitated.

It’s up to us as artists to produce life long experiences for our customers

By: Dan Leontiev

Dan Leontiev — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:07:09 +0000

Good point, excellent blog!

My name is Dan, I live in Moscow, Russia.

There are some emerging names that aren’t known to the public. One of them is the young Russian painter Irina Gornostaeva.

I am impressed by the radiant energy of her works, and by her rigorous academic training.

The realist school is not popular everywhere, but it’s picking up here in Russia.

The world is changing, reality is often more surprising than art, for better or worse.

Realists who have good technique and substance, depict this change in a powerful and convincing way.

Dan
Moscow, Russia

By: David Lloyd Stewart

David Lloyd Stewart — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:27:56 +0000

What an excellent question. During hard economic times, some people tend to think of art as expendable – a non-essential expense. I have always argued the opposite: that during trying times, art is more necessary than ever to bolster the human spirit. Finally, I heard one of the trend forecasters who agrees with me! Gerald Celente of Trends Forecaster gave an interview where he recommends buying buying art from local artists as an alternative to rampant consumerism during this holiday season, briefly about 7 minutes into the interview. It was very heartening. I don’t know if it would be proper etiquette to provide the link here, though …. Alyson?

By: Patricia C Vener

Patricia C Vener — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:06:43 +0000

I just read all of the comments and still find myself slightly confused (as opposed to, say, bewildered). I have yet to fully understand the term “anti-consumerism.” Does it describe a tendency to purchase less no matter what the reason or does it mean purchasing with thoughtful consideration rather than merely rampant acquisition (quality vs quantity)?

I’m fairly certain independent artists will fare better in an environment where people make their purchases based on their own tastes, desires and needs rather than on fashion trends dictated to them. That said, however, it is indeed the arts that hurt first when people are convinced times are bad (whether or not this is a valid outlook).

Does art need defending at any time? This is, I think, a more apropos question because art in our society is less respected than, say, a bunch of guys slamming into each other on a fake grass arena. (Of course the work of firemen is also apparently less respected, but that’s another discussion.) Art does not need defending at any time. Rather the general public needs educating – and that’s a different perspective altogether.

By: Tina Mammoser

Tina Mammoser — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:31:56 +0000

I personally feel that anti-consumerism phases (like you say, not necessarily now) are more about anti-mass-production than consumerism as a whole. Trends go to local, handcrafted, fair trade, etc. I think art falls into these categories on several levels – handcrafted, dealing directly with the producer of the work to support a local worker (or through a local gallery to support two local businesses!).

But if we’re talking total anti-consumerism… people who love and buy art because they understand and appreciate the art, rather than just want a decorative item, see beyond the product of it and want to support the production – the creativity and the artist. In this sense it’s less capitalist and more socialist (hoorah!) and a purchase that contributes to both their social lives and the life of someone they consider important to society. Since those buyers will think art is relevent beyond just brightening up a wall.

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 01:26:16 +0000

I have no desire, time, or inclination to defend my art against, really, anything. I don’t create to defensively defend my work.
Real collectors are such a small community and usually are comitted when they can afford to be. Sadly, the loss of 30%-60% or more of their net worth in a year period has made some of them a little nervous about purchases. As Alyson pointed out, this can and has happened during many periods of history. I’m sure art was stolen more then bought during WWII.
Another way to think of what happened with the market is to think back when gas was at $2 a gallon and then skyrocketed to above $5. Did this change our behavior, yes. Did we use less gas, yes. But if the gas company threw in an easy wipe and a free bumper sticker stating that “I love oil companies” would that have made me buy more oil? No. I was cutting back, no matter what. It’s not personal and the tide will turn, but while you are waiting, create, create, create and be inspired.
I know this is not what many want to hear when they are trying to sustain themselves as artists, but the reality is that the key is to stay focused on the creative process. The buyers will come and go, and ebb and flow, but the passion lies in the work.