ARTS

Brother, Can You Spare a Painting?

The recession has been disastrous for the contemporary-art market. That may turn out to be good for the art.

By Peter Plagens | NEWSWEEK
Published Feb 21, 2009
From the magazine issue dated Mar 2, 2009

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  • Posted By: megraham @ 02/22/2009 7:16:24 AM

    I am an artist....not recognized as a great artist....but able to sell my work on a continual basis so I can make more. I too have seen the market slow. As the slowing of the economy occurs, I am still making art. That doesn't change. In fact, I'm making the pinacle of my work now....and somewhere on down the road...someone will buy it.

    • Posted By: NSABOB @ 03/03/2009 3:31:26 PM

      I like the fact that real artists will survive any economic downturn. Real artists don't need any bail outs or handouts.
      I am a blue collar journeyman artist in Denver. My house is paid for, my car also , I did it with my artistic effort.
      My intent is to be an artist no matter what happens.
      I was inter viewed by NPR in 2008. Find me by google.

  • Posted By: powakai @ 02/25/2009 6:32:19 PM

    ...and what about t-shirt artists like me who still do real contempo art? hahahahaha $$$ The art dealers (as usual) missed the boat.

    • Posted By: nosepilot @ 02/27/2009 6:31:09 AM

      Mugs and Tshirts. the unrecognized art form.

      Apple released its White Leopard operating system and the world wide economic crisis was suddenly eliminated. Using the improved software, old computers selling at a small fraction of original price could suddenly compete in speed, reliability and efficiency with the newest expensive models. Schools, governments, and businesses strapped for funds no longer had to worry about budgets for updating obsolete hardware. At the date of the White Leopard release, used Apple computers could be purchased for $50 to $400 dollars. Running on the new operating system, these affordable machines suddenly became as powerful as the newest $2,000 models. With the money saved from no longer needing to buy the newest computer every couple of years, people were freed to pay their mortgages, credit cards bills, health insurance, higher taxes and the higher gasoline prices. The sale of large automobiles returned vigorously. American car manufacturing revived and returned to dominance.

      The price of Microsoft shares plummeted. Apple's larger competitor had no similar money saving operating system available. When Microsoft looked ready to file for bankruptcy, I bought as much Microsoft stock as I could fit on 10 credit cards. Now I can afford to sell artwork like this for under 15 dollars.

      http://www.deviantart.com/print/5287920/?utm_source=deviantart&utm_medium=deviationpage&utm_campaign=buyprintbottom

  • Posted By: sparkyanderson @ 02/25/2009 3:39:48 PM

    It is very sad when artists look to the government for funding. It must be very distracting to paint or sculpt while you have one hand reaching out to the government for help. It is not easy to become one of the top 1 percent of artists who live off of their income from art sales. It never has been. On the other hand, it does not cost very much at all to create great art. The great artists have always created their work with or without patrons, and with or without funding from the government for noble reasons of their own.

    • Posted By: PajamaSquid @ 02/25/2009 5:21:51 PM

      Wait, are you kidding me? It doesn't cost much to do great art? Do you have any idea how much a large canvas costs? Start at $100 bucks and go up. Hand-stretching doesn't cost much less, as a decent size roll of canvas or linen (unprimed!) starts at about the same. I'm a painter myself and I had to drop $500 for the *pieces* of a large canvas, which I then had to assemble with a four person team over the course of days. That's not even getting into the cost of paint, with tubes of artist quality cobalt blue paints costing $20-$40 a pop. A single tiny tube of watercolor can be twenty dollars for crying out loud. And that's just one color! Then you need good lighting, good brushes (I get fairly cheap ones for $12 a piece), a decent easel, a big enough space to work, the *time* to work, and all sorts of other materials like gesso, oil, and on and on. Paper is no less expensive. Good watercolor paper (and trust me, the good stuff *is* much better than the less expensive stuff) can be ten dollars a page.

      Basically, you want real, good materials, you pay through the nose. Why shouldn't the government give grants? I've never taken one, but I certainly wouldn't say no to one. Art needs support just like anything else. By denying that you also deny that art and creativity isn't actually a valuable asset to our country and our lives, as, let me add, so many people seem to think. Like when art is first on the chopping block when schools need to cut back their budget.

    • Posted By: PajamaSquid @ 02/25/2009 5:18:03 PM

      Wait, are you kidding me? It doesn't cost much to do great art? Do you have any idea how much a large canvas costs? Start at $100 bucks and go up. Hand-stretching doesn't cost much less, as a decent size roll of canvas or linen (unprimed!) starts at about the same. I'm a painter myself and I had to drop $500 for the *pieces* of a large canvas, which I tehn had to assemble with a four person team over the course of days. That's not even getting into the cost of paint, with tubes of artist quality cobalt blue paints costing $20-$40 a pop. A single tiny tube of watercolor can be twenty dollars for crying out loud. And that's just one color! Then you need good lighting, good brushes (I get fairly cheap ones for $12 a piece), a decent easel, a big enough space to work, the *time* to work, and all sorts of other materials like gesso, oil, and on and on. Paper is no less expensive. Good watercolor paper (and trust me, the good stuff *is* much better than the less expensive stuff) can be ten dollars a page.

      Basically, you want real, good materials, you pay through the nose. Why shouldn't the government give grants? I've never taken one, but I certaintly wouldn't say no to one. Art needs support just like anything else. By denying that you also deny that art and creativity isn't actually a valueble asset to our country and our lives, as, let me add, so many people seem to think. Like when art is first on the chopping block when schools need to cut back their budget.

  • Posted By: ecochic @ 02/25/2009 4:28:35 PM

    the recession will be a great tsunami wiping away all the artkrap that's been a product of the commodification of art

  • Posted By: Tan Boon Tee @ 02/24/2009 1:54:27 AM

    The recession has been disastrous for the contemporary-art market. But whose art? Stolen Chinese ARTIFACTS?

    The West invaded and ransacked Beijing a century ago, robbing away the most precious antiques. Now not only they have the cheek to auction the loots in public, but also challenging the rights of the genuine owner.

    The arrogance is obnoxious. Remember, the West does not own the past of China or what is Chinese.

    • Posted By: Vigilance @ 02/25/2009 3:18:21 PM

      Where the eff did this come from? What incident specifically are you upset about? Beijhing and "the West" have had a tumultuous relationship since the dawn of time.

  • Posted By: theuglyduckling @ 02/25/2009 1:50:04 PM

    a bunch of young artist ignored by galleries and neglected by collectors? sounds like a breeding ground for graffiti artists.................everyone grab a can!

  • Posted By: oneflashoflight @ 02/25/2009 1:28:04 PM

    The contemporary art world is EXACTLY like any other art form and the genre brackets in which they break down.

    Mr. Plagens is correct in calling out the masses that behave like lemmings regarding who they flock to with their cigarette lighters and wallets. Wynton, however, IS a contemporary jazz musician much like Hirst to the art world although the latter's output stands in the waist-deep side of the ridiculous pool. And while Wytnon helped to save jazz from the clutches of Kenny G, you couldn't give Wynton tickets away in the 90's and can currently find his releases for under $5 in any used bin across the country.

    There is and has always been better art in all forms well under the POPULAR (read Contemporary) radar and not finding it is the sole fault of the appreciator/buyer. The sources of information are too vast to list!?! Remember, a gallery is exactly like looking at someone else's record collection as the curator's taste is most likely not exactly yours, and his position doesn't make his taste better. The curator in larger galleries also jumps to the crack of the critics' whip much like the DJ in corporate controlled radio, and THIS is how Contemporary (read Popular) artists are made.

    Marketability and Hype versus Heart and Soul.

    Need help? Google James Caudle, Randi Starup, Slaughterhaus Rose, Gary Aagaard, Sam Hamrick, Nakisha Vanderhooven for art...for jazz?...we'd have to talk first.

  • Posted By: oneflashoflight @ 02/25/2009 1:27:11 PM

    The contemporary art world is EXACTLY like any other art form and the genre brackets in which they break down.

    Mr. Plagens is correct in calling out the masses that behave like lemmings regarding who they flock to with their cigarette lighters and wallets. Wynton, however, IS a contemporary jazz musician much like Hirst to the art world although the latter's output stands in the waist-deep side of the ridiculous pool. And while Wytnon helped to save jazz from the clutches of Kenny G, you couldn't give Wynton tickets away in the 90's and can currently find his releases for under $5 in any used bin across the country.

    There is and has always been better art in all forms well under the POPULAR (read Contemporary) radar and not finding it is the sole fault of the appreciator/buyer. The sources of information are too vast to list!?! Remember, a gallery is exactly like looking at someone else's record collection as the curator's taste is most likely not exactly yours, and his position doesn't make his taste better. The curator in larger galleries also jumps to the crack of the critics' whip much like the DJ in corporate controlled radio, and THIS is how Contemporary (read Popular) artists are made.

    Marketability and Hype versus Heart and Soul.

    Need help? Google James Caudle, Randi Starup, Slaughterhaus Rose, Gary Aagaard, Sam Hamrick, Nakisha Vanderhooven for art...for jazz?...we'd have to talk first.

  • Posted By: nbalentine @ 02/25/2009 1:17:52 PM

    i understand the underlying premise that now that the masses can't afford modern art, only the truely great art, and serious collectors and appreciators will rsie to the top. In some ways that may be the case, but in other ways that is a snobbish, and narrow explanation of why art will be better off. I dont think it will. Ultimatley fewere artist will be able to amke any kind of living making real art. yes, this will weed out the posers, but it will aslo prohibit the making of art. Art schools will clsoe, less funding all around for art and music in teh public school systems, less appreciation for things artistic. This does not bode well for art at all.

  • Posted By: bomarz @ 02/23/2009 3:55:39 AM

    art reflects the insanity of the world and in it's turn fosters further insanity. it's been said that Western music lost it's peacefullness when it began deviating from the Gregorian Chant and i can see things that way. please, stop the world, i want to get off.

    • Posted By: thirdeyesocial @ 02/25/2009 1:11:09 PM

      I concur . . . Ihowever I think that the recession will create a resurgence in the arts. I forsee a weird conglomerate of the 20's, 60-70's, 80-90's . . .

    • Posted By: thirdeyesocial @ 02/25/2009 1:04:15 PM

      I concur . . . but at the same time you'd have to realize that this period in time where art is ignored will sprout a resurgence in it . . . I forsee some kind of weird conglomerate of the 20's, 60-70's, and 80-90's . . .

    • Posted By: thirdeyesocial @ 02/25/2009 1:03:42 PM

      I concur . . . but at the same time you'd have to realize that this period in time where art is ignored will sprout a resurgence in it . . . I forsee some kind of weird conglomerate of the 20's, 60-70's, and 80-90's . . .

  • Posted By: allenbennett @ 02/25/2009 12:58:15 PM

    This shakeout will be great for contemporary art. The proper focus will return to beauty and design.

  • Posted By: The PAB @ 02/25/2009 12:46:29 PM

    Ok there is ONE benifit to the recession. Some of us that love to collect art and couldn't find some beautiful works within our price range again. Not world art or classics, but also not Kmart or Target framed prints. I feel sorry for the artists because they get so little of the total price that is in the gallery. One way to help the artist is to look at what you like in the galleries and then contact them directly (their websites) and tell them what you want and buy from them directly. You can often get it for 30% less than in the gallery and they get 30% more than what they would from the middle man system.

  • Posted By: Iam3rd @ 02/25/2009 12:36:16 PM

    I don't think centuries old Chinese art is usually called 'contemporary'.....

  • Posted By: Tan Boon Tee @ 02/24/2009 1:52:49 AM

    The recession has been disastrous for the contemporary-art market. But whose art? Stolen Chinese artifacts?

    The West invaded and ransacked Beijing a century ago, robbing away the most precious antiques. Now not only they have the cheek to auction the loots in public, but also challenging the rights of the genuine owner.

    The arrogance is obnoxious. Remember, the West does not own the past of China or what is Chinese.

    Who CARES about the improvement of Sino-French relationship anymore?
    (Tan Boon Tee)

  • Posted By: OnlyCure=Truth @ 02/22/2009 2:01:27 PM

    Obama was pulled out of a hat as the best man to hold this country together on the verg of the worst crises ever imagined. This is a generated crises by the bankers and the elite of the planet. This is not a conspiracy just do the research. The scheme will fail though because people will put it together soonner or later and revolt. The question is only when not if. So what would be the best course for the average person.
    Stop denying the truth America is bankrupt and this was planned. The people in charge in the government are purpetuating the problem because special interest and big money the bankers, oil, corporate america now control government not the people.
    Look at your paper money it is corporate paper that is worth only what it will trade for not issued by the govnerment "Federal Reserve Note" It is not federal government it is a "federal" corporations of bankers.
    They the governement and the bankers dont value you or human life as much as the value there own assets.
    You are worth more than any piece of paper so dont play along in there stupid game.
    Stop enabling these CROOKS to destroy your life and the lives of your children.

  • Posted By: cdelutz @ 02/22/2009 10:21:05 AM

    When we discuss mid 19th Century French art we think Courbet, Manet,Monet, Realists and Impressionist. The big stars (and sellers) of the era were Cabanel, Bougereau, Gerome and most of all Messionier (heard of him?) So it will be with the stars of the last decade or so.

    Postmodernism dates back, at least, to the 1970s. Conceptual Art to the 1960s. Most young artists that hit the gallery scene today paint a la 80s or do 70s style dawing, or what Rob Storr called 'misconceptualism' (in an article in Frieze last year).

    Meanwhile in the real world, the way we deal with visiuslizing our selves and society has been revolutionized since the early 90s - cellphones that are digital camera (and videocams!), the internet, blogs, Youtube, photoshop (and GIMP!) etc. There is also a whole artworld that deals with these (and other) new phenomena.. under the general title of 'New Media'; it is rarely found in galleries or museums.

    A generation from now people will have forgotten John Currin or Dana Schutz. Damien Hirst's reputation will have fallen. MoMA, the Guggenheim and the Tate will be known for their collection of art 'from the last century'; The Venice Biennale replaced by Ars Electronica. The art worls like the real world will have moved on.

  • Posted By: cdelutz @ 02/22/2009 10:20:50 AM

    When we discuss mid 19th Century French art we think Courbet, Manet,Monet, Realists and Impressionist. The big stars (and sellers) of the era were Cabanel, Bougereau, Gerome and most of all Messionier (heard of him?) So it will be with the stars of the last decade or so.

    Postmodernism dates back, at least, to the 1970s. Conceptual Art to the 1960s. Most young artists that hit the gallery scene today paint a la 80s or do 70s style dawing, or what Rob Storr called 'misconceptualism' (in an article in Frieze last year).

    Meanwhile in the real world, the way we deal with visiuslizing our selves and society has been revolutionized since the early 90s - cellphones that are digital camera (and videocams!), the internet, blogs, Youtube, photoshop (and GIMP!) etc. There is also a whole artworld that deals with these (and other) new phenomena.. under the general title of 'New Media'; it is rarely found in galleries or museums.

    A generation from now people will have forgotten John Currin or Dana Schutz. Damien Hirst's reputation will have fallen. MoMA, the Guggenheim and the Tate will be known for their collection of art 'from the last century'; The Venice Biennale replaced by Ars Electronica. The art worls like the real world will have moved on.

  • Posted By: cdelutz @ 02/22/2009 10:19:47 AM

    When we discus mid 19th Century French art we think Courbet, Manet,Monet, Realists and Impressionist. The big stars (and sellers) of the era were Cabanel, Bougereau, Gerome and most of all Messionier (heard of him?) So it will be with the stars of the last decade or so.

    Postmodernism dates back, at least, to the 1970s. Conceptual Art to the 1960s. Most young artists that hit the gallery scene today paint a la 80s or do 70s style dawing, or what Rob Storr called 'misconceptualism' (in an article in Frieze last year).

    Meanwhile in the real world, the way we deal with visiuslizing our selves and society has been revolutionized since the early 90s - cellphones that are digital camera (and videocams!), the internet, blogs, Youtube, photoshop (and GIMP!) etc. There is also a whole artworld that deals with these (and other) new phenomena.. under the general title of 'New Media'; it is rarely found in galleries or museums.

    A generation from now people will have forgotten John Currin or Dana Schutz. Damien Hirst's reputation will have fallen. MoMA, the Guggenheim and the Tate will be known for their collection of art 'from the last century'; The Venice Biennale replaced by Ars Electronica. The art worls like the real world will have moved on.

  • Posted By: jeffmart @ 02/21/2009 4:50:13 PM

    I think most people, maybe with the exception of dealers, auction houses and opportunist artists, will welcome a downturn in sales if it comes with a focus the art and the dialogue about our society that good art can foster.
    Jeff M. http://www.RLloydMing.com

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