Artists complaining about the Arts Festival
I found a message board at: Art Fair Source Book. It's a site where artists say negative things about everything. Not one post was positive about anything. Guess you have to be sullen and miserable to be an artist these days. Maybe it helps in the creative process.
One artist was even putting down people for taking photographs, they actually think people take photos of the art, blow them up and hang them on the walls. Guess they don't understand that all those photos taken are free publicity for the artists when they are circulated around. I was told by one artist that major retailers send out people to take photos, then take those and have them reproduced cheaply in China. Sounds a bit far fetched but who knows. Maybe that is the case.
Here was one interesting post. I told the artist he/she would remain anonymous:
I just discovered this blog online: http://coconutgrovegrapevine.blogspot.com/
I see that someone was complaining about the cost of the kiddie rides. Now, I'm very confused. I have not heard anything about kiddie rides at the Coconut Grove show, and I don't ever remember seeing them there. Somebody please tell me that there were no kiddie rides at the Grove!
I don't think that reporting survey results alone is going to do much to get the attention of the powers that be, enough attention to cause them to change anything that they do. Hopefully, most of the attending artists completed the survey that was enclosed in their packets at the show. And, hopefully, the show carefully reviews the information gleaned from those surveys/reviews, and takes heed to any problems reported and suggestions made. I wonder whether or not the way that business and politics works, and the way that things get done, in that part of the country is a bit "different" from other areas.
Let's see now . . . . with crowd estimates of 150,000 (remember the good-old-days when it was in the 500,000 range?) . . . times $5.00 each (more if some came multiple days), that equals $750,000.00 . . . times the number of years that this gate fee has been in effect . . . hmmmm . . . . well, lot's of moola involved. CASH moola. (Just where is that art center?)
Perhaps artists got led down the primrose path . . . when being told that the gate fee would make things better, just to make the idea of a gate fee more "palatable" to the artists. My prediction . . . the "art" show will continue to die, and the event will eventually become a regular run-of-the-mill street festival (like it isn't already?) -- a place for the people who attend the boat show to go to drink and listen to music. And, unfortunately, the formerly good reputation of the "Grove" as the place to go and buy fine art . . . will totally disappear. I sure hope I'm wrong. Miami would surely miss out.
One artist was even putting down people for taking photographs, they actually think people take photos of the art, blow them up and hang them on the walls. Guess they don't understand that all those photos taken are free publicity for the artists when they are circulated around. I was told by one artist that major retailers send out people to take photos, then take those and have them reproduced cheaply in China. Sounds a bit far fetched but who knows. Maybe that is the case.
Here was one interesting post. I told the artist he/she would remain anonymous:
I just discovered this blog online: http://coconutgrovegrapevine.blogspot.com/
I see that someone was complaining about the cost of the kiddie rides. Now, I'm very confused. I have not heard anything about kiddie rides at the Coconut Grove show, and I don't ever remember seeing them there. Somebody please tell me that there were no kiddie rides at the Grove!
I don't think that reporting survey results alone is going to do much to get the attention of the powers that be, enough attention to cause them to change anything that they do. Hopefully, most of the attending artists completed the survey that was enclosed in their packets at the show. And, hopefully, the show carefully reviews the information gleaned from those surveys/reviews, and takes heed to any problems reported and suggestions made. I wonder whether or not the way that business and politics works, and the way that things get done, in that part of the country is a bit "different" from other areas.
Let's see now . . . . with crowd estimates of 150,000 (remember the good-old-days when it was in the 500,000 range?) . . . times $5.00 each (more if some came multiple days), that equals $750,000.00 . . . times the number of years that this gate fee has been in effect . . . hmmmm . . . . well, lot's of moola involved. CASH moola. (Just where is that art center?)
Perhaps artists got led down the primrose path . . . when being told that the gate fee would make things better, just to make the idea of a gate fee more "palatable" to the artists. My prediction . . . the "art" show will continue to die, and the event will eventually become a regular run-of-the-mill street festival (like it isn't already?) -- a place for the people who attend the boat show to go to drink and listen to music. And, unfortunately, the formerly good reputation of the "Grove" as the place to go and buy fine art . . . will totally disappear. I sure hope I'm wrong. Miami would surely miss out.
posted by Tom Falco at 8:19 AM
YOU MAY NOT LIFT THE PHOTOS & TEXT. IT'S COPYRIGHTED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. YOU CAN HOWEVER SHARE A STORY ON SOCIAL MEDIA BY USING THE LINKS HERE.
For linking to this one story, just click on the time it was posted & just this story will open for sharing - only through social media. Not copying and pasting.
8 Comments:
The issue with the pictures is a funny one.
I was "ordered" by the guys who were selling patio furniture in the parking by the entrance to not take pictures of the furniture. I wanted to show them to my wife and maybe, if she liked them, have her come see them. The guy there got annoying that I took pictures I didn't want just for the hell of it.
In general, and the law in the US is really clear about this, you can take pictures of ANYTHING out in the street. As a matter of fact, you can take pictures of almost anything and anyone unless (1) the person has a realistic expectation of privacy or (2) you are in a private space (e.g., a Museum) which doesn't allow photography (since it is understood that to enter the museum you have agreed to abide by their rules)
In all honesty, I found that only about 5 or 6 exhibitors got really nasty about it, out of hundreds, so probably they are the same people complaining now.
Screw them.
That furniture was really nice and made me wish I had an outdoor area to put it in. The cost was high but it seemed high quality. I didnt get the "no pictures" sign either. Lame...
I know an artist who has displayed at the show for a few years and he was saying that this year he did not sell any painting except for a print of his work for $40. Basically he lost money since the space costs a lot of money. He says this is generally the case all over the USA now, except when European tourists are available, but he believes entrance fee for Coconut Grove Arts Festival has changed the crowd for the worse.
My artist friend who is incidently Chinese says it is true China is putting out a lot of mass produced paintings now, they have factories with people sitting in a line with paint brushes, one paints the background another paints the sky and another the flowers and so on and the painting is finished in about five minutes then the ship containers of it to the USA or Europe where usually they are sold door to door by students from some foreign country who claim they are the art students and the original painters of the works. You might have seen some of these kids in Miami business districts with van load of paintings. So, when you buy art make sure you are talking to the original artist or a legitimate agent of the artist.
Mass paintings have always existed. How do you think the zillion Motel 6's and Ramadas decor their walls? I actually saw a demo of this in Mexico and it is breathtaking. Some students started painting marine-themed watercolors (these are real watercolors, mind you) based on a "master" painting and finished, honestly, one every 5 minutes. They used regular housepainting brushes, linen... you name it. Also, some did the sea, others the sky... that kind of thing. It was really cool to see.
Ya know what would be great on this blog. Some background facts. Who runs the arts festival? Who controls the money made from it? Who makes the decision and based on what public (would have to be) process? I know this isnt'a news site, but if you know these things, includ them, if you don't your just spinning wheels and blowing a lot of hot air around.
Ya know what would be nice? Not having anonymous jerks attack me.
If you ever read any other posts on this blog, you would know that Monty Trainer is president. And all of their info is at their website: http://www.coconutgroveartsfest.com
I am not defending anyone but it is true having pictures taken of your art is a problem. I travel to China and visit the shows where over 10,000 factories participate. The factories displaying their items, especially those of an artistic nature, will not let you take pictures. There are tons of factories to create any product. The problem is the innovative design.
That's China.
This is the US.
And, over here, you can legally take pictures of anything in the street
Post a Comment
<< Home