Is ART Necessary? Are Professional Artists Dead-Enders?

Treasure Beach Forum: TB Runnin's: Is ART Necessary? Are Professional Artists Dead-Enders?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By z on Monday, June 17, 2013 - 09:52 pm: Edit Post

Closing of the Mutual Gallery of Art in Kingston...due to lack of commercial support from sponsors.

The question can be asked: Who will blame hard-pressed donors for scratching an art gallery from their slimmed-down budget? Yet, at the same time, we must also ask: Is there no place for anything that nourishes the soul?

The market is particularly depressed at this time because the supply of artwork has increased. The proliferation is a result of more people trying to make a living from, or supplement their income from the sale of art. The supply is further inflated by wealthy collectors willing to part with works by the acknowledged "masters" of the fine arts. In this milieu it is even suspected that there are forgeries of the paintings and style of famous dead artists.
The loss will no doubt discourage artists, especially the young, emerging and unknown. The Mutual Gallery has been in the forefront of promoting and introducing emerging artists by way of two well-established annual exhibitions: Art Fresh and the SuperPlus Under 40 Artist of the Year Competition.


Observer Link:
www.jamaicaobserver.com/editorial/In-a-time-of-economic-doldrums--is-there-no-pl ace-for-an-art-gallery-_14501917

Comment from Brooklyn-Man about the state of Arts in J'ca:
No sir. According to the masses such things are a "wase a moni", and, "nuh mek no sense". Betta u use dah money deh buy free house fi suffarah. Wase u life go dance, drop outta school, nuff oman, nuff pickny as the case may be. After that we force the proverbial "big man",fi giwe free house. There is absolutely no space for aesthetics, beauty finer things and mild relaxing culture. Of course in other countries, build it and they will come, but here frames to hold art a foolishness afta all dem need firewood.

Newsweek: Modern Art's Last Gasp-Has All The Art In The World Been Made?
www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2013/06/05/modern-art-s-last-gasp-at-the-2013-ven ice-biennale.html