Economic Recovery

I recently read the book Plenitude by Juliet Schor, and it really got my mind rolling.   Many of the things she said were ideas I already had tumbling around in my head, but she articulated them much better than I ever could.  She had a lot of research and analysis to clarify her points, which really helps.  Some of these facts are rather shocking and sobering.  She talks about shifting away from the business-as-usual mentality and work toward a future of stability and sustainability.  It is not easy work, but necessary is rarely easy.  I highly recommend this book, what she says is a real wake up call for all us. 

Then I came across the blog of creative person Amanda Palmer, her blog entry about the relationship to art and income was of particular interest to me.  What she says, echoes some of what I read in  Lewis Hyde's book The Gift, which talks about the role of the artist as a necessary contributor to the health and well-being of society.   Hyde talks about the struggle within the arts when turning something necessary to the culture into a commodity. Amanda Palmer discusses in her blog that financial support is necessary and should not be tied in with feelings of guilt.   I have been working for the last three years to shift my income to one that revolves around my creativity. I too have struggled with the feelings of guilt and the strangeness of turning art into a commodity.  As a result I have turned toward looking at how my creativity, which as been with me from when I was a small child, is a valid contribution to society.  This has opened me up to exploring different ways to make a living.

I have been working on painting, sculpture and my writing as a way to diversify my income.  I am careful now about the kind of jobs I choose, to make sure they support in some way my creative work, rather than just take time away from it.  I do some freelance web and editing work that is flexible with my art-making schedule and I teach.  Right now, it is tight.  I live precariously, but I am frugal and careful.  This is not how I would like to keep living, nor is it healthy to do so.  Right now, I'm afraid, too many people live like this...and far too many of them that do are creative people.

As we try to recover from the "financial crisis" (that politicians like to call it), returning to the status quo is not the answer.  This is our opportunity to fix what didn't work and create a new system.  For me, it is building a living around my creative work.  And a way to do that is to keep my work as close to me as possible. I am avoiding the middle-person to sell or distribute my work, so that I can keep my work priced reasonable and, more importantly to me, maintain relationships with the people who enjoy my work.  When so much of my time is spent alone as I work on my art, it is crucial that I maintain some contact with the people that appreciate and enjoy my work.

But, in order to be able to sustain a living, I need support.  And it isn't just me.  There are so many wonderfully creative people out there doing wonderful work without big contracts with record companies, publishers or galleries.  We need to support these people.  If we listen to their music, we need to buy their music or attend their concerts or invite them to house concerts.  If we need greeting cards, artwork, sculptures, gifts for others or ourselves, we need to buy them from those independent artists.  If we cannot purchase their work because our own money is tight, then we can help promote them by telling others, we can give the artist supplies to do their work, we can donate in-kind materials, we can make them some dinner, and so on.  Supporting an artist so they can make a living, isn't only  financial.  There are many ways to help. This is part of the new financial model that we need to build.

I believe this kind of purchase power and support will help tremendously with the economic recovery. By supporting independent artists we help allow work get made, we support the local community, and we play an active role in the kind of work that gets made.  We don't need big companies to choose for us what work gets made. We don't need to pay the higher costs of products to cover the big company leaders salaries.  We don't need to support big businesses shady practices that come back to hurt the consumer.  We can support the artists we know and whose work we enjoy.  As Amanda Palmer puts it so well:

it’s about empowerment and it’s about SIMPLICITY: fan loves art, artist needs money, fan gives artist money, artist says thank you.

I ask you, please, the next time you go buy a CD, a greeting card, a print, a painting, a book, a gift or home item, consider supporting an independent artist or writer.  They are making good work and it deserves to be noticed and supported!  As an artist, who works hard at what I do, I say, THANK YOU!!!

DoAn
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DoAn Art is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions in behalf of DoAn Art may be made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.  
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All artwork, photos and text © Copyright 2005-2010 DoAn Art (Antony Galbraith) unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Antony Galbraith.

A Creative Renaissance

Lately I have been noticing a plethora of wonderful creative work made by independent artists and individuals who dedicate what little free time they have available.  With reports in the media talking about the decline of the quality of life in our society and how the vast majority of people are dissatisfied with their lives.  It is no wonder with the inadequate sleep, poor diet, long hours at work, and lack of healthy relationships that there is a resurgence in creativity.  A quick browsing of the internet will lead you to visual artists, photographers, sculpters, poets, writers, podcasters, videographers and other creative individuals who are committed to exploring and sharing their creative spirit with others. 

I am inspired by this increase in creativity and it gives me hope for the future.  During a time when so many people feel helpless and uncertain about their lives, I believe it is the creative spirit that has the ability to heal and bring back a sense of purpose.  If you doubt this power, think about how artists can transform a depressed and run-down neighborhood into a thriving community. 

Our society needs this injection of vitality.  With so much emphasis in the media on the negative and with much going on in the world to rightly be concerned about, we need to be uplifted to build our staminia for the work that needs to be done and remind us that there is a reason for us to be here.  The creative spirit allows us to pick through the rubble of a society that seems to be falling to pieces and create something new and better. 

We can all be part of this creative rennaissance.  Creativity comes in all forms and can be applied to all aspects of our lives.  We can bring creativity to our jobs, our relationships, to the way we live our lives. We can pick up a paint brush or a pen and see what happens.  Or, if we feel intimidated to be creative ourselves we can support those who are actively being creative.  Or we can do both!

Supporting independent artists is one of the best ways to invest in a better future for everyone.  Instead of going to the box stores that often purchase products manufactured overseas, at the high cost of environmental damage, look locally for artists.  Local art tends to support a sustainable lifestyle, due to the lesser amount of materials used.  Some artists even devote their crafts to creating  objects that are environmentally sound and sustainable.  Instead of mass produced greeting cards look for artists who make and market their own creations, instead of those mass produced prints, try purchasing print-on-demand or even an original piece.  There is high quality work being made out there, often times this work is much better than what mass produced "art" can deliver.  Look for independent musicians who forgo unfair contracts with big music companies to produce and market their music on their own.  Look for potters for your dishes, for sculpters to decorate your home, for independent writers for your library, and for independent filmmakers for your entertainment.

By investing in independent artists and other creative individuals, we invest in a future that not only has the potential to survive, but to thrive.  Here are just some of the creative things I have found on the internet:

Podiobooks: authors reading their own writing in audiobook format.
Pendant Publications: podcast dramas with a superhero focus by independent writers and voice actors.
Podcast Alley: "radio-shows" on the internet.  The topics and formats are limitless!
Etsy: a source for artists to showcase and sell their hand-made items.
Magnatunes: music by independent artists.
Fine Art America: prints, greeting cards, and original artwork by artists.
Lulu: books, ebooks, and calendars by self-published writers.
Smashwords: ebooks by by self-published writers. (ebooks saves paper and ink!)

And don't forget to check out the fine artists and writers who happen to be right in your own neighborhood!  They are out there working hard, often juggling multiple jobs and family responsibilities to create work that is too often taken for granted.  Bring joy to their lives and enrich your own and the lives of others while helping to support the betterment of community by patronizing local creative people!

Thank you for being part of the Creative Renaissance!

DoAn
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DoAn Art is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions in behalf of DoAn Art may be made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.

All artwork, photos and text © Copyright 2005-2009 DoAn Art (Antony Galbraith) unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Antony Galbraith.