“Izzy, Rose and Lenore”, one of the notecards being sold in foursomes for $12 Saturday at my photo show, “Portraits Of My Life,” at the Redux Gallery, Dorset, Vt., 3 to 6 p.m.
Culture is, to me, always more interesting than politics. Maybe because one reflects the other. I think it’s true that “good” or “fine” art is essentially the province of the wealthy, in the same way that “high” culture – some museums, symphonies, operas, galleries – have become markets and institutions that only the wealthy really can afford to patronize – even before the Great Recession.
It’s complicated. Generally, only weathly people have the discretionary income. And in order for artists to survive and do distinctive work, they rely on those people to support. Writing, although it is complex, scans across class much more easily. Some people don’t want to buy a $25 hard cover book, but it is not, relatively speaking, an expensive thing to purchase, surely not in comparison to the things hanging on gallery walls.
Art has in some cases permitted itself to be marginalized in this way, since middle and working class people have come to see many forms of art as elitist playthings, and with some justification.
So here I am in the middle of this interesting issue, and nothing makes me happier than interesting issues.
It costs money to take good photos, more to print them well, frame and matt them, still more to make the whole thing worthwhile to a good gallery. Maria has dealt with this issue by making quilts that cost $300 – reasonable, seems to me – and potholders she sells for $9. Working with a great gallery owner, I’m trying my own experiment. A mix of ways to sell photos to see if the process can cross some of those economic and cultural lines. Notecards for $12. Small unframed photos for $50, framed photos for $300 to $400, inexpensive for gallery art, costly for many budgets.
It seems to me that art has to find its audience. I don’t think I can say to people, well, here are my photos. Spend hundreds of dollars on them or get lost. Nor do I want my photos reproduced cheaply and sold thoughtlessly. I value them more highly. I don’t think it’s fair either, for people who love the photos to say they want them but aren’t worth much of anything. I do think art can lift the spirit and nourish the soul – especially when things are tough – if it does its job. Good art is hard (and expensive) to make. The trick is to find a balance. And to consider new ways of connecting with people. Bless the Internet for that.
Where does this live the photographer. Well, we’ll see and I’ll report back honestly. I will not make money on this photo show, that’s pretty sure. I’m lucky to have a printer – Carolyn and Jon from the Image Loft – and a gallery owner – Christine Nemec – who are eager to work with me and see if we can alter the chemistry of “art” a bit. That would be worthwhile. I have my own ideas about the form of the gallery reception, which have always seemed a bit constipated to me. So I’m bringing a dog or two, a quilter and a poet, and talking directly and informally about my own notion of creativity. This will be an informal, and hopefully, fun way to spend a couple of hours.